When to plant Onions in North Carolina

In spring, from Jan 15 – Feb 15 in Goldsboro to Apr 1 – May 1 in Waynesville.

In fall, from Sept 1 – Oct 15 in Apex to Oct 1 – Dec 31 in Wilmington.

Dates are for setting out plants. USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.

Onion plants planting dates by place in North Carolina
PlaceSpringFall
AlbemarleFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
ApexFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
ArchdaleFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
AsheboroMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
AshevilleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
BelmontFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
BooneApr 1 – May 1Spring-planted
BurlingtonFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
CarrboroFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
CaryFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
Chapel HillFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
CharlotteFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
ClaytonMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
ClemmonsMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
ConcordFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
CorneliusFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
DavidsonFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
DurhamFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
EdenMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
Elizabeth CityFeb 15 – Mar 15Oct 1 – Dec 31Now
ElonFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
FayettevilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
Fuquay-VarinaFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
GarnerFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
GastoniaFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
GoldsboroJan 15 – Feb 15Oct 1 – Dec 31Now
GrahamFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
GreensboroFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
GreenvilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
HarrisburgFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
HavelockFeb 10 – Mar 10Oct 1 – Dec 31Now
HendersonMar 15 – Apr 10Not listed
HendersonvilleMar 1 – Apr 1Spring-planted
HickoryFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
High PointFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
Holly SpringsMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
Hope MillsFeb 10 – Mar 10Sept 1 – Oct 15
HuntersvilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
Indian TrailFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
JacksonvilleFeb 10 – Mar 10Oct 1 – Dec 31Now
KannapolisFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
KernersvilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
Kings MountainFeb 10 – Mar 10Sept 1 – Oct 15
KinstonFeb 10 – Mar 10Sept 1 – Oct 15
KnightdaleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LaurinburgFeb 10 – Mar 10Sept 1 – Oct 15
LelandFeb 10 – Mar 10Oct 1 – Dec 31Now
LenoirMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LewisvilleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LexingtonMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LincolntonMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
LumbertonFeb 10 – Mar 10Sept 1 – Oct 15
MatthewsFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
MebaneFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
Mint HillFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
MonroeFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
MooresvilleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
MorgantonMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
MorrisvilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
Mount AiryMar 15 – Apr 10Spring-planted
Mount HollyFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
New BernFeb 10 – Mar 10Sept 1 – Oct 15
NewtonFeb 10 – Mar 10Sept 1 – Oct 15
PinehurstFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
PinevilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
RaleighFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
ReidsvilleMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
Roanoke RapidsFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
Rocky MountFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
RolesvilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
SalisburyMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
SanfordMar 1 – Apr 1Not listed
ShelbyMar 1 – Apr 1Spring-planted
SmithfieldFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
Southern PinesFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
Spring LakeFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
StallingsFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
StatesvilleMar 15 – Apr 10Spring-planted
SummerfieldFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
TarboroFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
ThomasvilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
Wake ForestFeb 15 – Mar 15Not listed
WaxhawFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
WaynesvilleApr 1 – May 1Spring-planted
WeddingtonFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
WendellFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
WilmingtonFeb 10 – Mar 10Oct 1 – Dec 31Now
WilsonFeb 10 – Mar 10Sept 1 – Oct 15
Winston-SalemFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
WintervilleFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15
ZebulonFeb 15 – Mar 15Sept 1 – Oct 15

Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means the place's frost date is outside the table. The full USDA table for onion plants.