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When to Plant Onion in White Pine County, NV

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.

White Pine County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 12 and the first fall frost is September 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 92 days.

At an elevation of 6,766 feet, White Pine County receives approximately 15 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Onion will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Onion successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

White Pine County, NV (Zone 5b) Very short season
92 days
Last Spring Frost June 12
92 growing days
First Fall Frost September 12

White Pine County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 3 Transplant: Jun 7 🍅 Harvest: Sep 6 – Oct 25
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 8 Transplant: Jun 12 🍅 Harvest: Sep 11 – Oct 30
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 17 Transplant: Jun 21 🍅 Harvest: Sep 20 – Nov 8

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
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 604 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Onion needs ~1,916 GDD — county provides 1,679 GDD May not mature

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” White Pine County, NV

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 8 May 8 โ€“ May 22
Transplant Outdoors June 12 Jun 12 โ€“ Jun 26
Direct Sow May 29 May 29 โ€“ Jun 19
Fall Sowing July 4 Jul 4 โ€“ Jul 18
Harvest September 11 Sep 11 โ€“ Oct 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

92 days

Growing Tips for White Pine 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 White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of June 12. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 12 and first fall frost is September 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help White Pine 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 White Pine County, NV. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.