Planting Garlic, Shallots and Onions

Where to plant?

Garlic, shallot and onion are three plants from the allium family. They thrive in sunny locations, in any soil type provided it is well-drained, as they dislike waterlogged conditions.

In what type of soil?

Being low-maintenance, they don’t require prior compost application.

A soil that’s too rich or recently fertilised is actually discouraged, as this would increase the risk of rot and lead to poor storage.

If your soil retains water, we recommend planting garlic, onions and shallots on mounds to improve drainage.

When to plant?

Planting bulbils and cloves takes place:

Garlic:

• in February – March (from January in mild climates) for pink garlic and from October,
• in December for white garlic and purple garlic

Onion:

• from February to April, depending on the variety,
• in autumn, in October – November, in regions with mild winters.

Shallot:

• from February to April, for pink shallots (or in October-November in mild climates),
• in October – November, for grey shallots.

How to plant?

Plant in rows spaced 25 cm apart, directly in the ground or, if your soil is heavy and retains water, on small flattened mounds 10 to 20 cm high.

The recommended planting distances are as follows:

• Garlic: 12 cm between each clove
• Onion: 15 cm between each bulb
• Shallot: 20 cm between each bulb

Planting itself is done using a dibber or simply by hand, burying the bulb or clove so that the tip is just visible.

Note that garlic is delivered as a whole head: separate each small clove before planting. Those on the outer edge are reputed to be the most productive. Make sure to position the roots downwards and the tip upwards!

No watering is necessary after planting.