When to Plant Onions in Florida
In Florida, the time to plant onions outside runs from Dec 18 – Jan 1 in Winter Haven to Feb 11 – Feb 25 in Tallahassee. In Jacksonville, it's Jan 4 – Jan 18. The average last spring frost differs by about 8 weeks across the state (Jan 15 in Winter Haven, Mar 11 in Tallahassee), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Onions are cold-hardy. Plant sets or transplants early so they grow leaves before long summer days trigger bulbing.
- Start indoors: 10–12 weeks before the last frost.
- Plant outside: 2–4 weeks before the last frost.
Onions planting dates in Florida by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altamonte Springs | 10a | Oct 25 – Nov 8 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Apopka | 9b | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 |
| Bonita Springs | 10b | Oct 25 – Nov 8 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Boynton Beach | 10b | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Dec 25 – Jan 8 |
| Bradenton | 10a | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 |
| Cape Coral | 10b | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 |
| Clearwater | 10a | Oct 25 – Nov 8 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Clermont | 9b | Nov 6 – Nov 20 | Jan 1 – Jan 15 |
| Cutler Bay | 11a | Oct 26 – Nov 9 | Dec 21 – Jan 4 |
| Daytona Beach | 9b | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 |
| Delray Beach | 11a | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Dec 25 – Jan 8 |
| Deltona | 9b | Nov 3 – Nov 17 | Dec 29 – Jan 12 |
| Fort Myers | 10b | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | Dec 19 – Jan 2 |
| Fort Pierce | 10a | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Dec 25 – Jan 8 |
| Gainesville | 9a | Dec 9 – Dec 23 | Feb 3 – Feb 17 |
| Jacksonville | 9b | Nov 9 – Nov 23 | Jan 4 – Jan 18 |
| Jupiter | 10b | Nov 3 – Nov 17 | Dec 29 – Jan 12 |
| Kissimmee | 10a | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Dec 31 – Jan 14 |
| Lakeland | 9b | Nov 3 – Nov 17 | Dec 29 – Jan 12 |
| Largo | 10a | Oct 25 – Nov 8 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Melbourne | 10a | Nov 1 – Nov 15 | Dec 27 – Jan 10 |
| North Port | 10a | Nov 9 – Nov 23 | Jan 4 – Jan 18 |
| Ocala | 9a | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Ocoee | 10a | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Dec 31 – Jan 14 |
| Orlando | 10a | Nov 2 – Nov 16 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 |
| Palm Bay | 10a | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 |
| Palm Beach Gardens | 10b | Oct 29 – Nov 12 | Dec 24 – Jan 7 |
| Palm Coast | 9b | Nov 1 – Nov 15 | Dec 27 – Jan 10 |
| Pensacola | 9a | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Jan 17 – Jan 31 |
| Pinellas Park | 10a | Oct 25 – Nov 8 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Port Orange | 10a | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 |
| Sanford | 9b | Nov 3 – Nov 17 | Dec 29 – Jan 12 |
| Sarasota | 10a | Oct 23 – Nov 6 | Dec 18 – Jan 1 |
| St. Cloud | 10a | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Dec 31 – Jan 14 |
| St. Petersburg | 10b | Oct 25 – Nov 8 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Tallahassee | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Tampa | 10a | Oct 28 – Nov 11 | Dec 23 – Jan 6 |
| Titusville | 10a | Nov 2 – Nov 16 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 |
| Winter Garden | 9b | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Dec 31 – Jan 14 |
| Winter Haven | 10a | Oct 23 – Nov 6 | Dec 18 – Jan 1 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
Parts of Florida rarely see frost (for example Miami, Port St. Lucie, Hialeah). There, planting is timed by heat rather than frost, usually in the cooler months; look up your ZIP code for details.
See all frost dates in Florida, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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