Root Vegetable

When to Plant Onions in Georgia

The backbone of the kitchen garden. Choose short-day, intermediate, or long-day varieties based on your latitude.

The Short Answer

Georgia is the home of the Vidalia onion — one of America's most famous regional food products. The sweet Granex onion grown in the specific soils around Vidalia, Georgia has its own federal trademark. Home gardeners throughout the state can grow the same variety (though they can't call them 'Vidalias' unless grown in the designated counties).

Georgia Frost Dates

Your planting dates depend on which part of Georgia you're in. Here are the frost date ranges by region:

Region Zones Last Frost (Spring) First Frost (Fall)
North Georgia Mountains 6b, 7a Apr 5 - Apr 20 Oct 10 - Oct 25
Central Georgia 7b, 8a Mar 15 - Apr 1 Nov 1 - Nov 15
South Georgia 8a, 8b, 9a Feb 28 - Mar 15 Nov 10 - Nov 25

Onions Planting Schedule for Georgia

North Georgia Mountains (Zones 6b, 7a)

Average last frost: Apr 5 - Apr 20 · Average first frost: Oct 10 - Oct 25

Start Seeds Indoors
10 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
4 wks before frost
Direct Sow
4 wks before frost

Central Georgia (Zones 7b, 8a)

Average last frost: Mar 15 - Apr 1 · Average first frost: Nov 1 - Nov 15

Start Seeds Indoors
10 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
4 wks before frost
Direct Sow
4 wks before frost

South Georgia (Zones 8a, 8b, 9a)

Average last frost: Feb 28 - Mar 15 · Average first frost: Nov 10 - Nov 25

Start Seeds Indoors
10 wks before frost
Transplant Outside
4 wks before frost
Direct Sow
4 wks before frost

Growing Onions in Georgia

State-Specific Growing Tips

Plant short-day onion transplants from October through November statewide. Georgia sits at the northern edge of short-day territory — the Piedmont and mountains can also experiment with intermediate-day varieties. The sulfur-poor soils in the Vidalia region are what give Vidalia onions their legendary sweetness — high-sulfur soils elsewhere produce sharper-flavored onions from the same variety. Cure in warmth for 2-3 weeks.

Recommended Varieties for Georgia

Short-day: Granex (the Vidalia onion), Texas 1015, Yellow Granex. For the mountains: try intermediate-day varieties like Candy. UGA Extension provides detailed onion variety guidance by region.

Common Challenges in Georgia

Thrips. Botrytis neck rot during wet storage. Pink root in some soils. Choosing the wrong day-length type — short-day for most of Georgia, intermediate for the mountains.

Growing Tips

Day length triggers bulbing. Northern gardeners need long-day varieties. Southern gardeners need short-day varieties.

Companion Planting

Plant onions alongside these companions for better growth:

Carrots Lettuce Beets Tomatoes

Keep onions away from:

Beans Peas

The Bottom Line

Onions can be grown successfully in Georgia with proper attention to regional frost dates and local growing conditions. Timing varies across the state — North Georgia Mountains gardeners work with a last frost around Apr 5 - Apr 20, while South Georgia sees frost end around Feb 28 - Mar 15. Choose varieties suited to your region, amend your soil based on its specific needs, and monitor for the pests and diseases most common in your area. For exact dates based on your zip code, use our free planting date finder.

Related Guides

Onions Growing Guide National planting guide with all states Georgia Planting Calendar All plants for Georgia Onions in Alabama Alabama planting dates Onions in Alaska Alaska planting dates Onions in Arizona Arizona planting dates Onions in Arkansas Arkansas planting dates
Note: All dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages, not predictions for any specific year. Always check your local weather forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops. Learn about our data sources.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026

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