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When to Plant Onion in Grundy County, MO

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.

Grundy County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 187 days.

At an elevation of 1,208 feet, Grundy County receives approximately 37.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Grundy County, MO (Zone 5b) Moderate season
187 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
187 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Grundy County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (42 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 8 Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Aug 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (44 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Sep 18

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
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Onion needs ~1,444 GDD — county provides 2,571 GDD Excellent fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Grundy County, MO

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ Apr 28
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 21
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23
Harvest July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Sep 1

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 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 5b

Growing Season

187 days

Growing Tips for Grundy 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 Grundy County, MO?

Grundy County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grundy County, MO?

Grundy County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grundy County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Grundy County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.