When to plant Onion sets in Virginia
In spring, from Feb 1 – Mar 20 in Alexandria to Mar 10 – Apr 1 in Waynesboro.
In fall, from Oct 1 – Dec 1 in Charlottesville to Nov 1 – Dec 31 in Portsmouth.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | Feb 1 – Mar 20 | Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon |
| Blacksburg | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Bristol | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Charlottesville | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Oct 1 – Dec 1Now |
| Chesapeake | Feb 1 – Mar 20 | Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon |
| Christiansburg | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Colonial Heights | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Not listed |
| Culpeper | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Danville | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Fairfax | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Falls Church | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Fredericksburg | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Front Royal | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Hampton | Feb 1 – Mar 20 | Oct 1 – Dec 1Now |
| Harrisonburg | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Herndon | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Hopewell | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Oct 1 – Dec 1Now |
| Leesburg | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Lynchburg | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Manassas | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Manassas Park | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Martinsville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Newport News | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Oct 1 – Dec 1Now |
| Norfolk | Feb 1 – Mar 20 | Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon |
| Petersburg | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Not listed |
| Poquoson | Feb 1 – Mar 20 | Oct 1 – Dec 1Now |
| Portsmouth | Feb 1 – Mar 20 | Nov 1 – Dec 31Soon |
| Radford | Mar 10 – Apr 10 | Spring-planted |
| Richmond | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Not listed |
| Roanoke | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Not listed |
| Salem | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Not listed |
| Staunton | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Suffolk | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Oct 1 – Dec 1Now |
| Vienna | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Virginia Beach | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Oct 1 – Dec 1Now |
| Warrenton | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
| Waynesboro | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | Spring-planted |
| Williamsburg | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Oct 1 – Dec 1Now |
| Winchester | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | Not listed |
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 sets.