Growing Calendar

MenuClose

HomeAboutSearch

When to plant onions in zone 8a

In zone 8a, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 29, start onions indoors December 7 to January 18 and plant out March 1 to 15.

The zone 8a schedule for onions

Start seeds indoors
December 7 to January 18
Plant out
March 1 to 15
Sow outdoors
February 15 to March 1

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,584 ZIP codes in zone 8a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for onions.

Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.

Frost risk in zone 8a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8a, the typical last frost ranges from about March 18 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 7 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 31 to November 16. For a typical place in the zone:

  • March 9Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Your dates for onions

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant onions where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

Onions in zone 8a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Charlotte, NCMar 30Dec 8 to Jan 19Mar 2 to 16
Memphis, TNMar 16Nov 24 to Jan 5Feb 16 to Mar 2
Baltimore, MDMar 24Dec 2 to Jan 13Feb 24 to Mar 10
Atlanta, GAMar 15Nov 23 to Jan 4Feb 15 to Mar 1
Raleigh, NCMar 28Dec 6 to Jan 17Feb 28 to Mar 14
Greensboro, NCMar 30Dec 8 to Jan 19Mar 2 to 16
Durham, NCMar 31Dec 9 to Jan 20Mar 3 to 17
Winston-Salem, NCMar 30Dec 8 to Jan 19Mar 2 to 16
Chesapeake, VAMar 17Nov 25 to Jan 6Feb 17 to Mar 3
Huntsville, ALMar 24Dec 2 to Jan 13Feb 24 to Mar 10
Fayetteville, NCMar 30Dec 8 to Jan 19Mar 2 to 16
Little Rock, ARMar 21Nov 29 to Jan 10Feb 21 to Mar 7

How to grow onionsAll zonesOnions in zone 7bOnions in zone 8bAbout zone 8a

Sources