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When to Plant Onion in Kodiak Island Borough, AK

Onions are a fundamental kitchen staple available in yellow, white, and red varieties. Choose long-day, short-day, or intermediate types based on your latitude.

Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 139 days.

At an elevation of 2,281 feet, Kodiak Island Borough receives approximately 27.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 60ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Onion to ensure they mature before fall.

Kodiak Island Borough, AK (Zone 6a) Short season
139 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
139 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Kodiak Island Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Aug 1 – Sep 19
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Sep 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (9 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 20 Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Aug 24 – Oct 12

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Onion needs ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Kodiak Island Borough, AK

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 โ€“ May 27
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ May 20
Fall Sowing July 21 Jul 21 โ€“ Aug 4
Harvest August 12 Aug 12 โ€“ Sep 30

Plant 1" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

90โ€“120 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

139 days

Growing Tips for Kodiak Island Borough

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting. Match day-length type to your latitude. Stop watering when tops begin to fall over and cure bulbs for 2-3 weeks before storage.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Peas
  • Green Beans
  • Asparagus

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Onion in Kodiak Island Borough, AK?

Kodiak Island Borough is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kodiak Island Borough, AK?

Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Kodiak Island Borough gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Kodiak Island Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.