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When to plant onions in zone 8b

In zone 8b, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 17, start onions indoors November 25 to January 6 and plant out February 17 to March 3.

The zone 8b schedule for onions

Start seeds indoors
November 25 to January 6
Plant out
February 17 to March 3
Sow outdoors
February 3 to 17

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,613 ZIP codes in zone 8b, 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 8b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8b, the typical last frost ranges from about March 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 3 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from November 2 to November 24. For a typical place in the zone:

  • February 25Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 17Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • April 6Safe: 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 8b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
San Antonio, TXFeb 26Nov 6 to Dec 18Jan 29 to Feb 12
Dallas, TXMar 2Nov 10 to Dec 22Feb 2 to 16
Fort Worth, TXMar 11Nov 19 to Dec 31Feb 11 to 25
El Paso, TXMar 2Nov 10 to Dec 22Feb 2 to 16
Las Vegas, NVJan 20Sep 30 to Nov 11Dec 23 to Jan 6
Virginia Beach, VAMar 29Dec 7 to Jan 18Mar 1 to 15
Arlington, TXMar 9Nov 17 to Dec 29Feb 9 to 23
Plano, TXMar 7Nov 15 to Dec 27Feb 7 to 21
Irving, TXMar 2Nov 10 to Dec 22Feb 2 to 16
Garland, TXMar 7Nov 15 to Dec 27Feb 7 to 21
Frisco, TXMar 18Nov 26 to Jan 7Feb 18 to Mar 4
McKinney, TXMar 18Nov 26 to Jan 7Feb 18 to Mar 4

How to grow onionsAll zonesOnions in zone 8aOnions in zone 9aAbout zone 8b

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