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When to Plant Onion in Jefferson 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.

Jefferson County, Washington is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 198 days.

At an elevation of 205 feet, Jefferson County receives approximately 40.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Jefferson County, WA (Zone 8b) Moderate season
198 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
198 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Jefferson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Onion Planting Timeline — Jefferson County, WA

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 10 Mar 10 – Mar 24
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 – Apr 28
Direct Sow March 31 Mar 31 – Apr 21
Harvest July 14 Jul 14 – Sep 1
Fall Sowing August 20 Aug 20 – Sep 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May
June
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing Harvest
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

90–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

📆 Growing Season

198 days in Jefferson County

Growing Tips for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, WA?

Jefferson County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jefferson County, WA?

Jefferson County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 29.

🌱

Your Jefferson County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Jefferson County (Zone 8b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Jefferson County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.