Planting Guides

When to Plant Onions in Richmond: Complete Guide + Best Varieties for Zone 7b

Richmond, Virginia

USDA Zone 7b

Last Frost: Apr 15

Last updated: October 30, 2025

Plant onions in Richmond from February 15-March 15 for spring harvest or October 1-November 15 for early summer harvest in Zone 7b.

DDorothy "Dot" Williams

October 30, 2025

When to plant onions in Richmond Virginia Zone 7b spring planting guide — — Image © PlantReference.org 2026

Quick Answer

Plant onions in Richmond February 15-March 15 for summer harvest or October 1-November 15 for spring harvest. Choose intermediate-day varieties for guaranteed success.

TL;DR

Richmond gardeners can plant onions twice yearly: February 15-March 15 for late summer harvest or October 1-November 15 for early summer harvest. Choose intermediate-day varieties like Allium cepa 'Candy' or long-day types like Allium cepa 'Red Wing' for Virginia's latitude. Plant garlic Allium sativum 'Music' in mid-October for June harvest.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to plant onions in Richmond Virginia?

The optimal times are February 15-March 15 for spring planting (harvest August-September) or October 1-November 15 for fall planting (harvest May-June). Richmond's Zone 7b climate allows both options. Spring planting is more traditional and reliable, while fall planting provides earlier harvest and often larger bulbs due to the extended growing period through winter.

What onion varieties grow best in Richmond's Zone 7b climate?

Intermediate-day varieties perform best in Richmond's latitude (37°N). Top choices include Allium cepa 'Candy' for reliability, Allium cepa 'Red Wing' for long storage, and Allium cepa 'Yellow Sweet Spanish' for large size. These varieties need 12-14 hours of daylight to trigger bulbing, which matches perfectly with Richmond's summer day length.

Can I grow garlic in Richmond Virginia?

Yes, garlic grows excellently in Richmond. Plant cloves mid-October through November for June harvest. Both hardneck varieties like Allium sativum 'Music' and softneck types like Allium sativum 'California Early' thrive here. Richmond's winter provides the necessary cold period (vernalization) for proper bulb development without extreme temperatures that damage cloves.

Should I plant onion sets or transplants in Richmond?

Transplants are generally superior for Richmond growing conditions. They offer better variety selection, reduced bolting risk, and more reliable performance in both spring and fall plantings. Sets work well for spring planting but choose small ones (pea-sized) to minimize bolting. For fall planting, always use transplants—sets are more prone to bolt when exposed to spring temperature fluctuations after winter dormancy.

Why did my Richmond onions bolt instead of forming bulbs?

Bolting typically results from temperature stress on physiologically mature plants. Large onion sets exposed to Richmond's variable spring weather—cool periods followed by sudden warmth—interpret this as winter passage and shift to reproductive mode. Prevention strategies: use smaller sets, choose transplants over sets, select intermediate-day varieties that adapt better to temperature fluctuations, and avoid planting during periods of extreme weather variability.

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Written By

Dorothy "Dot" Williams

Dot grew up on a small farm in rural Virginia and has maintained a vegetable garden for decades. After retiring from teaching elementary school, she became a Master Gardener volunteer and spends her time mentoring new gardeners at community garden plots in Richmond. She's especially knowledgeable about heirloom varieties, seed saving, and traditional growing methods passed down from her grandmother. Dot's no-nonsense advice comes from extensive trial and error—she's seen every tomato disease, pest problem, and weather disaster imaginable. Her biggest pet peeve is gardeners who overcomplicate simple tasks. "Plants want to grow," she often says. "Your job is to not get in their way."