When to plant onions in Oregon

Plant out in Portland

Jan 14–Feb 4

Across Oregon the window opens between December 31 and April 28. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Portland: Dec 3–Dec 31
Plant out, Portland: Jan 14–Feb 4
Last frost, Portland: Feb 25

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

PortlandJan 14–Feb 4

SalemFeb 20–Mar 13

EugeneFeb 28–Mar 21

GreshamFeb 2–Feb 23

HillsboroMar 5–Mar 26

BendApr 25–May 16

BeavertonFeb 18–Mar 11

MedfordFeb 25–Mar 18

CorvallisMar 6–Mar 27

SpringfieldFeb 28–Mar 21

TigardFeb 18–Mar 11

AlbanyMar 6–Mar 27

AlohaDec 31–Jan 21

Lake OswegoFeb 4–Feb 25

Grants PassFeb 25–Mar 18

KeizerFeb 20–Mar 13

RedmondApr 28–May 19

Oregon CityFeb 4–Feb 25

McMinnvilleFeb 22–Mar 15

WoodburnFeb 2–Feb 23

BethanyDec 31–Jan 21

Happy ValleyFeb 4–Feb 25

TualatinFeb 18–Mar 11

WilsonvilleFeb 4–Feb 25

Forest GroveMar 5–Mar 26

NewbergFeb 7–Feb 28

West LinnFeb 4–Feb 25

RoseburgFeb 9–Mar 2

HayesvilleFeb 20–Mar 13

MilwaukieJan 14–Feb 4

All 34 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Portland	Dec 3 to Dec 31	Jan 14 to Feb 4	Feb 25
Salem	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Eugene	Jan 17 to Feb 14	Feb 28 to Mar 21	Apr 11
Gresham	Dec 22 to Jan 19	Feb 2 to Feb 23	Mar 16
Hillsboro	Jan 22 to Feb 19	Mar 5 to Mar 26	Apr 16
Bend	Mar 14 to Apr 11	Apr 25 to May 16	Jun 6
Beaverton	Jan 7 to Feb 4	Feb 18 to Mar 11	Apr 1
Medford	Jan 14 to Feb 11	Feb 25 to Mar 18	Apr 8
Corvallis	Jan 23 to Feb 20	Mar 6 to Mar 27	Apr 17
Springfield	Jan 17 to Feb 14	Feb 28 to Mar 21	Apr 11
Tigard	Jan 7 to Feb 4	Feb 18 to Mar 11	Apr 1
Albany	Jan 23 to Feb 20	Mar 6 to Mar 27	Apr 17
Aloha	Nov 19 to Dec 17	Dec 31 to Jan 21	Feb 11
Lake Oswego	Dec 24 to Jan 21	Feb 4 to Feb 25	Mar 18
Grants Pass	Jan 14 to Feb 11	Feb 25 to Mar 18	Apr 8
Keizer	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Redmond	Mar 17 to Apr 14	Apr 28 to May 19	Jun 9
Oregon City	Dec 24 to Jan 21	Feb 4 to Feb 25	Mar 18
McMinnville	Jan 11 to Feb 8	Feb 22 to Mar 15	Apr 5
Woodburn	Dec 22 to Jan 19	Feb 2 to Feb 23	Mar 16
Bethany	Nov 19 to Dec 17	Dec 31 to Jan 21	Feb 11
Happy Valley	Dec 24 to Jan 21	Feb 4 to Feb 25	Mar 18
Tualatin	Jan 7 to Feb 4	Feb 18 to Mar 11	Apr 1
Wilsonville	Dec 24 to Jan 21	Feb 4 to Feb 25	Mar 18
Forest Grove	Jan 22 to Feb 19	Mar 5 to Mar 26	Apr 16
Newberg	Dec 27 to Jan 24	Feb 7 to Feb 28	Mar 21
West Linn	Dec 24 to Jan 21	Feb 4 to Feb 25	Mar 18
Roseburg	Dec 29 to Jan 26	Feb 9 to Mar 2	Mar 23
Hayesville	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Milwaukie	Dec 3 to Dec 31	Jan 14 to Feb 4	Feb 25
Klamath Falls	Mar 17 to Apr 14	Apr 28 to May 19	Jun 9
Ashland	Feb 11 to Mar 11	Mar 25 to Apr 15	May 6
Sherwood	Dec 27 to Jan 24	Feb 7 to Feb 28	Mar 21
Lebanon	Dec 20 to Jan 17	Jan 31 to Feb 21	Mar 14

Questions

When should I plant onions in Oregon?

In Portland, plant out from January 14 to February 4. Across Oregon the window opens between December 31 and April 28, 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 Oregon

Onions in other states

Frost dates for every city in Oregon