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When to Plant Onion in Geary County, KS

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.

Geary County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 188 days.

At an elevation of 610 feet, Geary County receives approximately 31.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Geary County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
188 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
188 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Geary County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (45 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Aug 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 17

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 608 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Onion needs ~1,680 GDD — county provides 3,008 GDD Excellent fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Geary County, KS

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 โ€“ Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ Apr 29
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Fall Sowing August 11 Aug 11 โ€“ Aug 25
Harvest July 15 Jul 15 โ€“ Sep 2

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
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

188 days

Growing Tips for Geary County

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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Onion in Geary County, KS?

Geary County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Geary County, KS?

Geary County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 20.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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