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When to Plant Onion in Garfield County, UT

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.

Garfield County, Utah is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 27 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 117 days.

At an elevation of 5,058 feet, Garfield County receives approximately 20.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Onion to ensure they mature before fall.

Garfield County, UT (Zone 5b) Short season
117 days
Last Spring Frost May 27
117 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21

Garfield County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 14 – Oct 2
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 22 Transplant: May 27 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Oct 14
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 20 Transplant: Jun 24 🍅 Harvest: Sep 23 – Nov 11

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
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 339 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Onion needs ~1,365 GDD — county provides 1,521 GDD Good fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Garfield County, UT

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 22 Apr 22 โ€“ May 6
Transplant Outdoors May 27 May 27 โ€“ Jun 10
Direct Sow May 13 May 13 โ€“ Jun 3
Fall Sowing July 13 Jul 13 โ€“ Jul 27
Harvest August 26 Aug 26 โ€“ Oct 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

117 days

Growing Tips for Garfield 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 Garfield County, UT?

Garfield County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 27. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Garfield County, UT?

Garfield County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 27 and first fall frost is September 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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