How long do onions take to grow?

Most onions mature in about 90 to 110 days depending on the variety, measured from planting.

When to Plant Onions

Plant onions by your frost dates, not the calendar: start seeds indoors about 10 weeks before your last spring frost, then plant outdoors about 4 weeks before your last frost. Pick your USDA zone below for exact dates.

Onions planting calendar

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Start seeds indoors

Feb 4

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Transplant outdoors

Mar 18

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Projected first harvest

Jul 6

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

MMay

JJun

JJul

AAug

SSep

OOct

NNov

DDec

🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 7a — approximate

Most onions mature in about 90 to 110 days depending on the variety. Dates above use zone 7 as a reference point. Pick your zone below, or set your ZIP in HomeSown for dates tuned to your exact location.

Varieties to grow

8 varieties of onions in the HomeSown library. Tap any for its full grow guide.

Cipollini Onion →Pearl Onion →Red Onion →Spanish Onion →Vidalia Sweet Onion →Walla Walla Sweet Onion →White Onion →Yellow Sweet Onion →

Common problems with onions

What to watch for, with identification and treatment for each

Onion Maggot Leek Moth Seed Corn Maggot Seedcorn Maggot Bulb Mite Wireworms Pink Root Botrytis Neck Rot Fusarium Basal Rot White Rot Cracking & Splitting Bulb Rot

🌱 Grow onions with a calendar built for your exact yard

HomeSown turns your ZIP code into a personalized planting calendar, watering reminders, and pest help. Free to start.

Start your free garden →

When to plant onions in your zone

Zone 3 →Zone 4 →Zone 5 →Zone 6 →Zone 7 →Zone 8 →Zone 9 →Zone 10 →