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When to Plant Onion in Newport News City, VA

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.

Newport News City, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost is November 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 240 days.

At an elevation of 356 feet, Newport News City receives approximately 41.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Newport News City, VA (Zone 7b) Long season
240 days
Last Spring Frost March 22
240 growing days
First Fall Frost November 17

Newport News City Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (99 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 27

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 Only during dry spells
Season total 581 gal / 100 sq ft
Onion needs ~1,838 GDD — county provides 4,200 GDD Excellent fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Newport News City, VA

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 15 Feb 15 โ€“ Mar 1
Transplant Outdoors March 22 Mar 22 โ€“ Apr 5
Direct Sow March 8 Mar 8 โ€“ Mar 29
Fall Sowing September 8 Sep 8 โ€“ Sep 22
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 โ€“ Aug 9

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August 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 7b

Growing Season

240 days

Growing Tips for Newport News City

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 Newport News City, VA?

Newport News City is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 22. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Newport News City, VA?

Newport News City, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 22 and first fall frost is November 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Newport News City gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Newport News City, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.