Were the bulbs protruding up from the ground? If not then yeah likely too early but there isn't anything you can do about it now. Using the guidelines of "stems withering and falling over" is a little vague. The leaves should be brown and the neck of the shallot brown and dry.

No idea where you are located (really need that info added to your profile) but keep in mind that it could simply be that this has been a bad year for all alliums in much of the US because of all the heavy rains so your results could just as easily be attributed to bad growing conditions as to too early harvest. Home grown will never compare in size or consistency to store-bought because of the very different growing methods commercial growers use.

Dave

edited to add - depending on your location you can save the small ones for fall planting.

Hi Dave- i live in zone 5, and the bulbs weren't protruding from the ground, but i planted them last fall & i planted them 3-4 inches deep (according to instructions in packet) so i'm not sure how that changes thing. how well do you think the shallots will store?

First year for planting shallots. I did last Oct. and just harvested yesterday. I've done garlic before. Just read someway about not replanting shallots in same spot nor where garlic has been. But since I only have one bed--not sure how important it is. I have them in the garage with a fan circulating air. Any advice for a new grower of shallots? I read conflicting advice about which to save--the smaller bulbs or the largest as I do for garlic. All help is greatly appreciated.

tas09,

First of all, 3-4 inches is way, way too deep. The tops of the bulbs planted should be almost at the surface, if not protruding slightly above. That is a significant contribution to your problem.