When to Plant Onions in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, the time to plant onions outside runs from Feb 15 – Mar 1 in Ardmore to Mar 21 – Apr 4 in Guymon. In Oklahoma City, it's Mar 7 – Mar 21. The average last spring frost differs by about 5 weeks across the state (Mar 15 in Ardmore, Apr 18 in Guymon), 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 Oklahoma by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Altus | 7b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Ardmore | 8a | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Bartlesville | 7a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Bethany | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Bixby | 7b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Broken Arrow | 7b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Chickasha | 7b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Choctaw | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Claremore | 7a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Del City | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Duncan | 8a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Durant | 8a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Edmond | 7b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| El Reno | 7b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Enid | 7a | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Glenpool | 7b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Guymon | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Jenks | 7b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Lawton | 7b | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| McAlester | 7b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Miami | 7a | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Midwest City | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Moore | 7b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Muskogee | 7b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Mustang | 7b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Newcastle | 7b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Norman | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Oklahoma City | 7b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Owasso | 7b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Ponca City | 7a | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Sand Springs | 7b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Sapulpa | 7b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Shawnee | 7b | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Stillwater | 7a | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Tahlequah | 7b | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Tulsa | 7b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Weatherford | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Woodward | 7a | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Yukon | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
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 Oklahoma, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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