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When to Plant Onion in Winchester 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.

Winchester City, Virginia is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 177 days.

At an elevation of 1,152 feet, Winchester City receives approximately 48.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Winchester City, VA (Zone 6b) Moderate season
177 days
Last Spring Frost April 24
177 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Winchester City Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (42 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Aug 13 – Oct 1

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
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Onion needs ~1,680 GDD — county provides 2,832 GDD Excellent fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Winchester City, VA

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 20 Mar 20 โ€“ Apr 3
Transplant Outdoors April 24 Apr 24 โ€“ May 8
Direct Sow April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ May 1
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23
Harvest July 24 Jul 24 โ€“ Sep 11

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
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 6b

Growing Season

177 days

Growing Tips for Winchester 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Onion in Winchester City, VA?

Winchester City is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 24. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Winchester City, VA?

Winchester City, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 24 and first fall frost is October 18.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Winchester City gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Winchester City, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.