Shallots

I have last year's small shallots saved for planting.  Last year they went into pots on 1st  Feb as the ground wasn't ready.   They took a month to pop and were finally planted out 23 March.  The crop was harvested along with onions etc when they had died down and was quite acceptable. Are they like garlic needing a cold spell?

Would I gain much by setting into pots  earlier  or do you think they would just stay dormant til it warmed up?   If that's the case I might as well wait till later.