When to Plant Onions in Ohio
In Ohio, the time to plant onions outside runs from Mar 11 – Mar 25 in Cleveland to Apr 10 – Apr 24 in Warren. In Columbus, it's Mar 23 – Apr 6. The average last spring frost differs by about 4 weeks across the state (Apr 8 in Cleveland, May 8 in Warren), 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 Ohio by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Beavercreek | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Canton | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Cincinnati | 6b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Cleveland | 7a | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Cleveland Heights | 6b | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Columbus | 6b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Cuyahoga Falls | 6b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 |
| Dayton | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Delaware | 6b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Dublin | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Elyria | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Euclid | 7a | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Fairfield | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Findlay | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Gahanna | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Grove City | 6b | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Hamilton | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Hilliard | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Huber Heights | 6b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Kettering | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Lakewood | 7a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Lancaster | 6a | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Lorain | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Mansfield | 6a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Marion | 6a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Mason | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Mentor | 7a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Middletown | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Newark | 6a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| North Ridgeville | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Parma | 6b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Reynoldsburg | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Springfield | 6a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 |
| Strongsville | 6b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Toledo | 6b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Upper Arlington | 6b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Warren | 6a | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Westerville | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Youngstown | 6a | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 3 – Apr 17 |
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 Ohio, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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