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When to Plant Onion in Harper 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.

Harper County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 201 days.

At an elevation of 745 feet, Harper County receives approximately 27.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Harper County, KS (Zone 6b) Long season
201 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
201 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Harper County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (63 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Aug 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 9

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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,548 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 3,216 GDD Excellent fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Harper County, KS

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 23
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 16
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1
Harvest July 9 Jul 9 โ€“ Aug 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing
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 6b

Growing Season

201 days

Growing Tips for Harper 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 Harper County, KS?

Harper County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Harper County, KS?

Harper County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Harper County gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Harper County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.