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When to Plant Onion in Morgan County, TN

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.

Morgan County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 1,116 feet, Morgan County receives approximately 41.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Morgan County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Morgan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (60 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: Apr 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Aug 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 16

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
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 309 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Onion needs ~1,838 GDD — county provides 3,535 GDD Excellent fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Morgan County, TN

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 19 Aug 19 โ€“ Sep 2
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 7a

Growing Season

202 days

Growing Tips for Morgan 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 Morgan County, TN?

Morgan County is in Zone 7a 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 Morgan County, TN?

Morgan County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Morgan County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Morgan County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.