Shallots are mild aromatic plants grown for their edible bulbs.

Shallots are perennial plants but are often cultivated as annuals.

Major Shallot producing countries in the world are China, Japan, South Korea, Nigeria, New Zealand, Iraq, Turkey and Mexico.

In India major Shallot producing states of India are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Telangana.

• Kingdom:  Plantae
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Liliopsida
• Order: Asparagales
• Family: Alliaceae
• Genus: Allium
• Species: cepa var. aggregatum

Bulbs are the most economically important part of Shallot cultivation

Shallots prefer cool weather during the growing period and the best temperature range is 13° to 24°C.

Shallots prefer a deep, fertile, friable soil containing plenty of organic matter.

A well-drained, light-textured soil makes planting and harvesting easy and is more likely to result in clean and presentable produce.

Shallots do not like acid soils and prefer a soil reaction of pH 6 or higher.

• The major challenges involve Biotic and Abiotic causes.
• Biotic Causes:
  • Major Pests: Bulb Mites, Onion Maggots, Thrips, Red Spider Mite and Eriophyid Mite.
  • Major Diseases: Black Mold, Downy Mildew, Fusarium Basal Plate Rot, Damping Off and Pink Root.
• Abiotic Causes:
  • Tip burning
  • Scorching
  • Splitting
  • Bolting