When to plant onions in Virginia

Plant out in Virginia Beach

Feb 15–Mar 8

Across Virginia the window opens between February 2 and March 13. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Virginia Beach: Jan 4–Feb 1
Plant out, Virginia Beach: Feb 15–Mar 8
Last frost, Virginia Beach: Mar 29

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

Virginia BeachFeb 15–Mar 8

RichmondFeb 20–Mar 13

ArlingtonFeb 10–Mar 3

NorfolkFeb 2–Feb 23

Newport NewsFeb 18–Mar 11

AlexandriaFeb 10–Mar 3

HamptonFeb 10–Mar 3

SuffolkFeb 13–Mar 6

RoanokeFeb 20–Mar 13

PortsmouthFeb 9–Mar 2

LynchburgMar 6–Mar 27

Dale CityMar 1–Mar 22

CentrevilleMar 4–Mar 25

RestonMar 3–Mar 24

HarrisonburgMar 10–Mar 31

McLeanFeb 26–Mar 19

LeesburgMar 5–Mar 26

TuckahoeFeb 27–Mar 20

AshburnMar 2–Mar 23

BlacksburgMar 13–Apr 3

Lake RidgeMar 1–Mar 22

CharlottesvilleFeb 19–Mar 12

ManassasMar 1–Mar 22

WoodbridgeFeb 14–Mar 7

BurkeMar 3–Mar 24

Linton HallMar 1–Mar 22

AnnandaleMar 3–Mar 24

DanvilleFeb 25–Mar 18

MechanicsvilleFeb 27–Mar 20

OaktonMar 3–Mar 24

All 64 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Virginia Beach	Jan 4 to Feb 1	Feb 15 to Mar 8	Mar 29
Richmond	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Arlington	Dec 30 to Jan 27	Feb 10 to Mar 3	Mar 24
Norfolk	Dec 22 to Jan 19	Feb 2 to Feb 23	Mar 16
Newport News	Jan 7 to Feb 4	Feb 18 to Mar 11	Apr 1
Alexandria	Dec 30 to Jan 27	Feb 10 to Mar 3	Mar 24
Hampton	Dec 30 to Jan 27	Feb 10 to Mar 3	Mar 24
Suffolk	Jan 2 to Jan 30	Feb 13 to Mar 6	Mar 27
Roanoke	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Portsmouth	Dec 29 to Jan 26	Feb 9 to Mar 2	Mar 23
Lynchburg	Jan 23 to Feb 20	Mar 6 to Mar 27	Apr 17
Dale City	Jan 18 to Feb 15	Mar 1 to Mar 22	Apr 12
Centreville	Jan 21 to Feb 18	Mar 4 to Mar 25	Apr 15
Reston	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Harrisonburg	Jan 27 to Feb 24	Mar 10 to Mar 31	Apr 21
McLean	Jan 15 to Feb 12	Feb 26 to Mar 19	Apr 9
Leesburg	Jan 22 to Feb 19	Mar 5 to Mar 26	Apr 16
Tuckahoe	Jan 16 to Feb 13	Feb 27 to Mar 20	Apr 10
Ashburn	Jan 19 to Feb 16	Mar 2 to Mar 23	Apr 13
Blacksburg	Jan 30 to Feb 27	Mar 13 to Apr 3	Apr 24
Lake Ridge	Jan 18 to Feb 15	Mar 1 to Mar 22	Apr 12
Charlottesville	Jan 8 to Feb 5	Feb 19 to Mar 12	Apr 2
Manassas	Jan 18 to Feb 15	Mar 1 to Mar 22	Apr 12
Woodbridge	Jan 3 to Jan 31	Feb 14 to Mar 7	Mar 28
Burke	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Linton Hall	Jan 18 to Feb 15	Mar 1 to Mar 22	Apr 12
Annandale	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Danville	Jan 14 to Feb 11	Feb 25 to Mar 18	Apr 8
Mechanicsville	Jan 16 to Feb 13	Feb 27 to Mar 20	Apr 10
Oakton	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Fair Oaks	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
South Riding	Jan 21 to Feb 18	Mar 4 to Mar 25	Apr 15
Petersburg	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Sterling	Jan 19 to Feb 16	Mar 2 to Mar 23	Apr 13
Springfield	Dec 30 to Jan 27	Feb 10 to Mar 3	Mar 24
West Falls Church	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Fredericksburg	Jan 12 to Feb 9	Feb 23 to Mar 16	Apr 6
Winchester	Jan 17 to Feb 14	Feb 28 to Mar 21	Apr 11
Short Pump	Jan 16 to Feb 13	Feb 27 to Mar 20	Apr 10
Tysons	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Staunton	Jan 21 to Feb 18	Mar 4 to Mar 25	Apr 15
Fairfax	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Cave Spring	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Salem	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Herndon	Jan 21 to Feb 18	Mar 4 to Mar 25	Apr 15
Bailey's Crossroads	Dec 30 to Jan 27	Feb 10 to Mar 3	Mar 24
Brambleton	Jan 19 to Feb 16	Mar 2 to Mar 23	Apr 13
Waynesboro	Jan 27 to Feb 24	Mar 10 to Mar 31	Apr 21
Chantilly	Jan 21 to Feb 18	Mar 4 to Mar 25	Apr 15
Chester	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Cherry Hill	Jan 3 to Jan 31	Feb 14 to Mar 7	Mar 28
Hopewell	Jan 6 to Feb 3	Feb 17 to Mar 10	Mar 31
West Springfield	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Leesylvania	Jan 3 to Jan 31	Feb 14 to Mar 7	Mar 28
McNair	Jan 21 to Feb 18	Mar 4 to Mar 25	Apr 15
Christiansburg	Jan 25 to Feb 22	Mar 8 to Mar 29	Apr 19
Montclair	Jan 3 to Jan 31	Feb 14 to Mar 7	Mar 28
Culpeper	Jan 27 to Feb 24	Mar 10 to Mar 31	Apr 21
Lorton	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Woodlawn	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3
Rose Hill	Dec 30 to Jan 27	Feb 10 to Mar 3	Mar 24
Merrifield	Jan 20 to Feb 17	Mar 3 to Mar 24	Apr 14
Buckhall	Jan 18 to Feb 15	Mar 1 to Mar 22	Apr 12
Meadowbrook	Jan 9 to Feb 6	Feb 20 to Mar 13	Apr 3

Questions

When should I plant onions in Virginia?

In Virginia Beach, plant out from February 15 to March 8. Across Virginia the window opens between February 2 and March 13, 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 Virginia

Onions in other states

Frost dates for every city in Virginia