When to Plant Onions in Texas
In Texas, the time to plant onions outside runs from Dec 12 – Dec 26 in Brownsville to Mar 18 – Apr 1 in Amarillo. In Houston, it's Jan 5 – Jan 19. The average last spring frost differs by about 14 weeks across the state (Jan 9 in Brownsville, Apr 15 in Amarillo), 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 Texas by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | 8a | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Feb 20 – Mar 6 |
| Allen | 8b | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 |
| Amarillo | 7a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Arlington | 8b | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 |
| Austin | 9a | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Beaumont | 9b | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Jan 17 – Jan 31 |
| Brownsville | 10a | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | Dec 12 – Dec 26 |
| Carrollton | 8b | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| College Station | 9a | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 |
| Conroe | 9a | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 |
| Corpus Christi | 10a | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Dec 25 – Jan 8 |
| Dallas | 8b | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 |
| Denton | 8a | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 |
| El Paso | 8b | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 |
| Fort Worth | 8b | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 |
| Frisco | 8b | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Garland | 8b | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Grand Prairie | 8b | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Feb 20 – Mar 6 |
| Houston | 9b | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Jan 5 – Jan 19 |
| Irving | 8b | Dec 14 – Dec 28 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 |
| Killeen | 8b | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Laredo | 9b | Nov 2 – Nov 16 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 |
| League City | 9b | Nov 8 – Nov 22 | Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Lewisville | 8b | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 |
| Lubbock | 7b | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| McAllen | 10a | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | Dec 12 – Dec 26 |
| McKinney | 8b | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 17 – Mar 3 |
| Mesquite | 8b | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Midland | 8b | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 |
| New Braunfels | 9a | Dec 14 – Dec 28 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 |
| Odessa | 8b | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 |
| Pasadena | 9b | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 |
| Pearland | 9b | Nov 8 – Nov 22 | Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Plano | 8b | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Richardson | 8b | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Round Rock | 9a | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| San Antonio | 9a | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Sugar Land | 9b | Nov 17 – Dec 1 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Tyler | 8b | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Waco | 8b | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 |
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 Texas, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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