When to plant onion in New Orleans
Onion is cold-hardy, so every date keys off New Orleans's frost dates of Feb 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Nov 30 – Dec 21
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Jan 20 – Feb 10
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Apr 20 – May 10
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
90 – 110 d
New Orleans's 304-day season leaves this much room.
Onion on New Orleans's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FEB 8
DEC 9
Common questions
When will onion be ready to harvest in New Orleans?
Expect to harvest from around mid April (Apr 20–May 10) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 73%.
When should I start onion seeds indoors in New Orleans?
Start seeds indoors around late November (Nov 30–Dec 21) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 77%.
When can I transplant onion outdoors in New Orleans?
Transplant outdoors around mid January (Jan 20–Feb 10) in New Orleans, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.
How long is the growing season in New Orleans?
New Orleans has roughly 304 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow onion to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow onion as soon as the soil is workable — it tolerates cool weather and light frost. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and New Orleans's frost dates.
Confidence 81/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.