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When to Plant Scallions in Barron County, WI

Barron County, Wisconsin Zone 4b April

April in the garden — Barron County, Wisconsin

Each item below is timed to Barron County, Wisconsin's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 17
Avg. first frost September 25
Soil temp (4") 41°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.3 hrs
Coming up in May — start thinking about
  • Transplants going out: scallions
  • Direct-sowing: scallions

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Scallions (green onions) are mild-flavored alliums harvested for their slender green tops and white bases. They are quick-growing and perfect for succession planting.

Barron County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 131 days.

At an elevation of 1,256 feet, Barron County receives approximately 40.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Scallions to ensure they mature before fall.

Barron County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
131 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
131 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Barron County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Aug 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 20 Transplant: Jun 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Aug 24

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.

Soil Compatibility in Barron County

How your county's soil matches Scallions's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–7.0) overlaps with Scallions's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Barron County is excellent for Scallions — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Scallions will thrive.

How to Plant Scallions

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Scallions

3
successive plantings in your 131-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 17 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 03.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Scallions

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

Month Scallions Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Barron County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Scallions Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Scallions needs ~735 GDD — county provides 1,604 GDD Excellent fit

Scallions Planting Timeline — Barron County, WI

Scallions Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 – Aug 9
Fall Sowing July 3 Jul 3 – Jul 17

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

131 days in Barron County

Growing Tips for Scallions in Barron County

Direct sow Scallions outdoors after May 17 in Barron County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Scallions in this region include onion maggots and thrips. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow every 3 weeks for continuous harvest. Thin to 1 inch apart or grow in clusters. Harvest when pencil-thick by pulling or cutting at soil level.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Peas
  • Green Beans

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Scallions in Barron County, WI?

Barron County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Scallions planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Barron County, WI?

Barron County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 25.

🌱

Your Barron County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Barron County (Zone 4a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Barron County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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