When to plant onions in North Carolina

Onions
Plant out in Charlotte
Feb 16–Mar 9

Across North Carolina the window opens between February 1 and March 5. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Charlotte
Jan 5–Feb 2
Plant out, Charlotte
Feb 16–Mar 9
Last frost, Charlotte
Mar 30

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Northern gardens need long-day varieties and southern gardens need short-day ones. A wrong pick gives small bulbs.

Onions planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
CharlotteFeb 16–Mar 9
RaleighFeb 14–Mar 7
GreensboroFeb 18–Mar 11
DurhamFeb 19–Mar 12
Winston-SalemFeb 12–Mar 5
FayettevilleFeb 16–Mar 9
CaryFeb 13–Mar 6
WilmingtonFeb 5–Feb 26
High PointFeb 16–Mar 9
ConcordFeb 18–Mar 11
GreenvilleFeb 13–Mar 6
AshevilleFeb 23–Mar 16
GastoniaFeb 13–Mar 6
ApexFeb 13–Mar 6
JacksonvilleFeb 9–Mar 2
HuntersvilleFeb 16–Mar 9
Chapel HillFeb 15–Mar 8
KannapolisFeb 18–Mar 11
BurlingtonFeb 15–Mar 8
Wake ForestFeb 21–Mar 14
MooresvilleFeb 26–Mar 19
Rocky MountFeb 17–Mar 10
Holly SpringsFeb 23–Mar 16
WilsonFeb 8–Mar 1
Fuquay-VarinaFeb 18–Mar 11
HickoryFeb 17–Mar 10
Indian TrailFeb 17–Mar 10
MonroeFeb 20–Mar 13
GarnerFeb 18–Mar 11
SalisburyFeb 23–Mar 16
All 52 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
CharlotteJan 5 to Feb 2Feb 16 to Mar 9Mar 30
RaleighJan 3 to Jan 31Feb 14 to Mar 7Mar 28
GreensboroJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
DurhamJan 8 to Feb 5Feb 19 to Mar 12Apr 2
Winston-SalemJan 1 to Jan 29Feb 12 to Mar 5Mar 26
FayettevilleJan 5 to Feb 2Feb 16 to Mar 9Mar 30
CaryJan 2 to Jan 30Feb 13 to Mar 6Mar 27
WilmingtonDec 25 to Jan 22Feb 5 to Feb 26Mar 19
High PointJan 5 to Feb 2Feb 16 to Mar 9Mar 30
ConcordJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
GreenvilleJan 2 to Jan 30Feb 13 to Mar 6Mar 27
AshevilleJan 12 to Feb 9Feb 23 to Mar 16Apr 6
GastoniaJan 2 to Jan 30Feb 13 to Mar 6Mar 27
ApexJan 2 to Jan 30Feb 13 to Mar 6Mar 27
JacksonvilleDec 29 to Jan 26Feb 9 to Mar 2Mar 23
HuntersvilleJan 5 to Feb 2Feb 16 to Mar 9Mar 30
Chapel HillJan 4 to Feb 1Feb 15 to Mar 8Mar 29
KannapolisJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
BurlingtonJan 4 to Feb 1Feb 15 to Mar 8Mar 29
Wake ForestJan 10 to Feb 7Feb 21 to Mar 14Apr 4
MooresvilleJan 15 to Feb 12Feb 26 to Mar 19Apr 9
Rocky MountJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
Holly SpringsJan 12 to Feb 9Feb 23 to Mar 16Apr 6
WilsonDec 28 to Jan 25Feb 8 to Mar 1Mar 22
Fuquay-VarinaJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
HickoryJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
Indian TrailJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
MonroeJan 9 to Feb 6Feb 20 to Mar 13Apr 3
GarnerJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
SalisburyJan 12 to Feb 9Feb 23 to Mar 16Apr 6
LelandDec 25 to Jan 22Feb 5 to Feb 26Mar 19
CorneliusJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
GoldsboroDec 21 to Jan 18Feb 1 to Feb 22Mar 15
New BernDec 29 to Jan 26Feb 9 to Mar 2Mar 23
SanfordJan 16 to Feb 13Feb 27 to Mar 20Apr 10
MatthewsJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
ClaytonJan 13 to Feb 10Feb 24 to Mar 17Apr 7
MorrisvilleJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
StatesvilleJan 22 to Feb 19Mar 5 to Mar 26Apr 16
Mint HillJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
KernersvilleJan 5 to Feb 2Feb 16 to Mar 9Mar 30
AsheboroJan 11 to Feb 8Feb 22 to Mar 15Apr 5
ThomasvilleJan 5 to Feb 2Feb 16 to Mar 9Mar 30
ShelbyJan 18 to Feb 15Mar 1 to Mar 22Apr 12
KnightdaleJan 13 to Feb 10Feb 24 to Mar 17Apr 7
WaxhawJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
ClemmonsJan 15 to Feb 12Feb 26 to Mar 19Apr 9
MebaneJan 10 to Feb 7Feb 21 to Mar 14Apr 4
CarrboroJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
HarrisburgJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
LexingtonJan 17 to Feb 14Feb 28 to Mar 21Apr 11
GrahamJan 10 to Feb 7Feb 21 to Mar 14Apr 4

Questions

When should I plant onions in North Carolina?

In Charlotte, plant out from February 16 to March 9. Across North Carolina the window opens between February 1 and March 5, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for North Carolina

Onions in other states

Frost dates for every city in North Carolina