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When to Plant Onion in Williams County, OH

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.

Williams County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost is October 14, giving you a growing season of approximately 168 days.

At an elevation of 1,057 feet, Williams County receives approximately 39.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Williams County, OH (Zone 5b) Moderate season
168 days
Last Spring Frost April 29
168 growing days
First Fall Frost October 14

Williams County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Onion

Onion needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Onion Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Williams County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Williams County, OH

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 25 Mar 25 โ€“ Apr 8
Transplant Outdoors April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ May 13
Direct Sow April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ May 6
Harvest July 29 Jul 29 โ€“ Sep 16
Fall Sowing August 5 Aug 5 โ€“ Aug 19

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

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

90โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

168 days in Williams County

Growing Tips for Williams 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Onion in Williams County, OH?

Williams County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 29. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Williams County, OH?

Williams County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 29 and first fall frost is October 14.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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