When To Plant Onions In Georgia

If you’re planning your garden in the Peach State, knowing when to plant onions in Georgia is the first step to a succesful harvest. Getting the timing right is crucial because onions are sensitive to day length and temperature.

This guide will walk you through the optimal planting seasons for different parts of the state, onion types, and simple steps to get you growing.

Georgia’s climate is split into three main regions: North, Middle, and South Georgia. Each has a slightly different planting window. Onions are a cool-season crop, so they’re planted in the fall or very early spring.

Understanding Your Georgia Growing Region

Your location determines your best planting dates. Here’s a quick breakdown:

North Georgia (Mountain & Upper Piedmont): Winters are coldest here. Plant onion sets or transplants in late March to early April. Fall planting is possible with heavy mulching, but spring is more reliable.
Middle Georgia (Piedmont & Metro Atlanta): This is the most flexible region. The prime window for planting is from mid-February to mid-March. You can also plant in October for a winter-over crop.
South Georgia (Coastal Plain): With the mildest winters, South Georgia gardeners have a long fall planting season. Aim for October through November. You can also plant in January or February.

Choosing the Right Onion Type for Georgia

Onions are classified by the amount of daylight they need to form bulbs. Picking the correct type is as important as timing.

Short-Day Onions: These bulb up with 10-12 hours of daylight. They are perfect for Georgia’s southern latitudes. Plant them in the fall. Popular varieties include Georgia Sweet, Vidalia types (only official in certain counties), and Texas Grano.
Intermediate-Day Onions: Need 12-14 hours of daylight. They perform well across most of Georgia, especially in Middle and North regions. Plant in late winter or early spring. Try Candy, Super Star, or Red Candy Apple.
Long-Day Onions: Require 14-16 hours of daylight and are better suited for northern states. They often don’t bulb properly in Georgia and are not recommended.

What About Vidalia Onions?

True Vidalia onions are a specific short-day variety (like Yellow Granex) grown in a legally defined 20-county region of Georgia. The unique soil there gives them there sweet flavor. You can grow similar sweet onions anywhere if you use the right short-day seeds.

How to Plant Onions: Seeds, Sets, or Transplants?

You have three options for starting your onions. Each has pros and cons.

Seeds: Most economical and offer the most variety. Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your outdoor planting date. They require the most time and care upfront.
Sets: These are small, dormant onion bulbs. They are the easiest and quickest to plant directly in the garden. However, they are more prone to bolting (flowering prematurely) and offer fewer variety choices.
Transplants: These are young seedling onions sold in bunches. They are a great middle-ground, offering good variety and a head start. You can find them at local nurseries in planting season.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Follow these steps for a healthy onion bed.

Prepare the Soil: Onions need loose, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Work in compost or aged manure a few weeks before planting. The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.8.
Plant Correctly: For sets or transplants, space them 4-6 inches apart in rows 12-18 inches apart. Plant them so the tip (for sets) or the white base (for transplants) is just barely covered with soil. If you plant to deep, bulb formation can be hindered.
Water and Feed: Water immediately after planting. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Feed with a balanced fertilizer or one slightly higher in nitrogen a few weeks after planting to support green growth.
Weed Carefully: Onions have shallow roots. Hand-pull weeds regularly to avoid competition. A light layer of straw mulch can supress weeds and retain moisture.

Caring for Your Onion Crop

Consistent care leads to bigger, better bulbs.

Watering: Provide about 1 inch of water per week. Reduce watering as the bulbs mature and the tops begin to yellow and fall over, which signals harvest time.
Fertilizing: Side-dress with a nitrogen fertilizer every 2-3 weeks until the bulbs begin to swell. After that, stop adding nitrogen.
Pests and Diseases: Watch for thrips (tiny insects that cause silvery streaks) and onion maggots. Use row covers for maggot prevention. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases like downy mildew.

Harvesting and Curing Your Onions

Harvest timing is key for storage. When about half the tops have naturally fallen over and turned brown, it’s time to harvest.

Gently lift the bulbs from the soil on a sunny, dry day.
Lay them out in a single layer in a warm, dry, airy place out of direct sun for 2-3 weeks. This curing process is essential for the necks to dry completely.
Once the necks are tight and the outer skins are papery, trim the roots and cut the tops back to about 1 inch. Store in a cool, dry, dark place in mesh bags or a single layer.

Common Onion Growing Problems in Georgia

Bolting: When an onion sends up a flower stalk, the bulb stops growing. Caused by temperature fluctuations or planting the wrong type. Choose the correct day-length type and avoid planting sets too early in cold soil.
Small Bulbs: Often due to overcrowding, insufficient water during bulb formation, or using the wrong onion type (like long-day in Georgia).
Rot in Storage: Usually caused by improper curing or bruising at harvest. Handle bulbs gently and make sure they are fully cured.

FAQ: Planting Onions in Georgia

Can I plant onions in the fall in North Georgia?
You can, but it’s riskier due to hard freezes. If you try, plant in October and use a thick layer of mulch to protect them over winter. Spring planting is often more succesful.

What is the best month to plant onions in Atlanta?
For the Atlanta area (Middle Georgia), target February to mid-March for spring planting. For a fall crop, aim for mid-October.

How late is too late to plant onions?
If planting in spring, you want onions to establish green growth before summer heat arrives. Planting after mid-April in North GA or early May in South GA will likely result in very small bulbs because the wrong daylight period.

Can I grow onions in containers?
Absolutely. Choose a deep pot (at least 10-12 inches) with good drainage. Use a quality potting mix and follow the same spacing for one layer of bulbs. Watering needs will be more frequent.

Why are my onion tops turning yellow?
A little yellowing at maturity is normal. Widespread yellowing earlier can signal overwatering, poor drainage, nitrogen deficiency, or a pest like onion thrips. Inspect your plants closely to identify the cause.

By matching your planting time to your region and choosing the right onion type, you’ll be well on your way to a bountiful harvest of homegrown onions. With a little planning and these simple steps, you can enjoy this garden staple straight from your own backyard.