When to Plant Onions in New York
In New York, the time to plant onions outside runs from Mar 4 – Mar 18 in New York to Apr 16 – Apr 30 in Kingston. In New York, it's Mar 4 – Mar 18. The average last spring frost differs by about 6 weeks across the state (Apr 1 in New York, May 14 in Kingston), 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 New York by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | 6a | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Auburn | 6a | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Binghamton | 6a | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Buffalo | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Elmira | 6a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Freeport | 7b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Garden City | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Glen Cove | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Harrison | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Hempstead | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Ithaca | 6a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Jamestown | 6a | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Kingston | 6b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Kiryas Joel | 6b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Lindenhurst | 7b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Long Beach | 7b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Middletown | 6b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Mount Vernon | 7b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| New Rochelle | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| New York | 7b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Newburgh | 6b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Niagara Falls | 6b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| North Tonawanda | 6b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Ossining | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Peekskill | 7a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Port Chester | 7b | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Poughkeepsie | 6b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Rochester | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Rockville Centre | 7b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Rome | 5b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Saratoga Springs | 5b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Schenectady | 6a | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Spring Valley | 7a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Syracuse | 6a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| Troy | 6a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Utica | 5b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
| Valley Stream | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Watertown | 5a | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| White Plains | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Yonkers | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
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.
See all frost dates in New York, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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