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When to Plant Onion in Klickitat County, WA

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.

Klickitat County, Washington is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 188 days.

At an elevation of 466 feet, Klickitat County receives approximately 42 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 77ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Onion to ensure they mature before fall.

Klickitat County, WA (Zone 6b) Moderate season
188 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
188 growing days
First Fall Frost October 19

Klickitat County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Aug 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 1 Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Aug 5 – Sep 23

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
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 103 gal / 100 sq ft
Onion needs ~814 GDD — county provides 1,457 GDD Excellent fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Klickitat County, WA

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 โ€“ Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ Apr 28
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 21
Fall Sowing August 10 Aug 10 โ€“ Aug 24
Harvest July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Sep 1

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 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

188 days

Growing Tips for Klickitat 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Onion in Klickitat County, WA?

Klickitat County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Klickitat County, WA?

Klickitat County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 19.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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