When to Plant Onions in Virginia
In Virginia, the time to plant onions outside runs from Feb 16 – Mar 2 in Norfolk to Mar 29 – Apr 12 in Radford. In Virginia Beach, it's Mar 1 – Mar 15. The average last spring frost differs by about 6 weeks across the state (Mar 16 in Norfolk, Apr 26 in Radford), 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 Virginia by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 8a | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Blacksburg | 7a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Bristol | 7a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Charlottesville | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Chesapeake | 8a | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 |
| Christiansburg | 7a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Colonial Heights | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Culpeper | 7a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Danville | 7b | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 |
| Fairfax | 7b | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Falls Church | 7b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Fredericksburg | 7b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Front Royal | 7a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Hampton | 8b | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Harrisonburg | 7a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Herndon | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Hopewell | 7b | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Leesburg | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Lynchburg | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 |
| Manassas | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Manassas Park | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Martinsville | 7b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Newport News | 8a | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Norfolk | 8b | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Petersburg | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Poquoson | 8b | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Portsmouth | 8b | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 |
| Radford | 7a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Richmond | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Roanoke | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Salem | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Smithfield | 8a | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Staunton | 7a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Suffolk | 8a | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 |
| Vienna | 7b | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Virginia Beach | 8b | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 |
| Warrenton | 7a | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Waynesboro | 7a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Williamsburg | 8a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Winchester | 7a | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
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 Virginia, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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