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When to Plant Onions in North Carolina

North Carolina spans USDA hardiness 6b to 9a (zones 6b to 9a on this page). Plant onions by your local frost date, not the calendar — pick your zone below for exact start-indoors, transplant, and harvest dates.

Jump to: Zone 6b · Zone 7a · Zone 7b · Zone 8a · Zone 8b · Zone 9a

Onions planting calendar for North Carolina, Zone 6b

Average last spring frost

April 20

Average first fall frost

October 15

🌿

Direct sow

Jan 26

🌾

Projected first harvest

May 16

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 6b (approximate)

Most onions mature in about 90 to 110 days depending on the variety. Full zone 6 guide (both 6a and 6b) →

Onions planting calendar for North Carolina, Zone 7a

Average last spring frost

April 15

Average first fall frost

October 20

🌿

Direct sow

Jan 21

🌾

Projected first harvest

May 11

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 7a (approximate)

Most onions mature in about 90 to 110 days depending on the variety. Full zone 7 guide (both 7a and 7b) →

Onions planting calendar for North Carolina, Zone 7b

Average last spring frost

April 10

Average first fall frost

October 30

🌿

Direct sow

Jan 16

🌾

Projected first harvest

May 6

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 7b (approximate)

Most onions mature in about 90 to 110 days depending on the variety. Full zone 7 guide (both 7a and 7b) →

Onions planting calendar for North Carolina, Zone 8a

Average last spring frost

April 1

Average first fall frost

November 10

🌿

Direct sow

Jan 7

🌾

Projected first harvest

Apr 27

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 8a (approximate)

Most onions mature in about 90 to 110 days depending on the variety. Full zone 8 guide (both 8a and 8b) →

Onions planting calendar for North Carolina, Zone 8b

Average last spring frost

March 20

Average first fall frost

November 20

🌿

Direct sow

Dec 26

🌾

Projected first harvest

Apr 15

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 8b (approximate)

Most onions mature in about 90 to 110 days depending on the variety. Full zone 8 guide (both 8a and 8b) →

Onions planting calendar for North Carolina, Zone 9a

Average last spring frost

March 1

Average first fall frost

December 1

🌿

Direct sow

Dec 7

🌾

Projected first harvest

Mar 27

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
🌱 Start indoors🌿 Growing outside🌾 HarvestTodayZone 9a (approximate)

Most onions mature in about 90 to 110 days depending on the variety. Full zone 9 guide (both 9a and 9b) →

Not sure which half-zone you're in? 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 MaggotLeek MothSeed Corn MaggotSeedcorn MaggotBulb MiteWirewormsPink RootBotrytis Neck RotFusarium Basal RotWhite RotCracking & SplittingBulb 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 →

onions — full zone guide

All zonesZone 6 →Zone 7 →Zone 8 →Zone 9 →