Zone 4 · Alliums Growing Guide

When to Plant Onion
in Zone 4

Plant from seeds (start very early), sets, or transplants. Choose varieties for your day-length: long-day onions for zones 5+, short-day for zones 7 and south. Day-length matters more than anything.

Plant outdoors
Apr 20 – May 15
Start indoors
Feb 1 – Feb 20
Last Frost
~May 1
Days to harvest
90–120 days
Difficulty
Medium
Plant now — Zone 4
Harvest window: Jul – Sep

Planting Calendar

In Zone 4, Onion should be planted outdoors Apr 20 – May 15, after the average last frost date of approximately May 1. Start seeds indoors around Feb 1 – Feb 20 for a head start.

Long-day varieties (Walla Walla, Copra). Start indoors early or plant sets in April.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Moderate
Spacing
4–6 inches
Soil
Loose, well-draining, fertile
Days to maturity
90–120 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 4

Long-day varieties (Walla Walla, Copra). Start indoors early or plant sets in April.

Feeding Schedule

How often
monthly
Feed type
high nitrogen then high potassium
Key timing
switch to high-potassium 6 weeks before harvest

Feed nitrogen monthly until bulbs start to form, then switch to high-potassium feed to encourage bulb sizing.

Companion Planting for Onion

What you plant next to onion makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Carrots
  • Brassicas
  • Tomatoes
  • Beets
Keep away from
  • Beans
  • Peas
  • Asparagus

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Common questions

In Zone 4, start onion seeds indoors around Feb 1 – Feb 20, then transplant outdoors Apr 20 – May 15 after your last frost around May 1. Long-day varieties (Walla Walla, Copra). Start indoors early or plant sets in April.
Zone 4 has an average last spring frost of approximately May 1 and a first fall frost around Oct 1. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for onion include Carrots, Brassicas, Tomatoes, Beets. Avoid planting near Beans, Peas, Asparagus, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Onion typically takes 90–120 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 4. Expected harvest window: Jul – Sep.

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Onion in other zones
Crop Guides