Rainline Garden

When to plant onions in Burns, OR

Plant onion sets in Burns Apr 30 – Jun 4.

Moderate Plant small onion bulbs (sets)

Why these dates

Burns's typical last spring frost is June 11. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 6 weeks before that.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Moderate
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
4 inches apart
Planting depth
Sets 1 inch deep, tip just showing
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 110 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant onion sets Apr 30 – Jun 4, 4 inches apart, sets 1 inch deep, tip just showing.
  3. Water regularly and keep the bed weeded; onions don't compete well.
  4. Harvest: When the tops flop over in late summer, pull the onions and let them dry in a shady, airy spot for two weeks.

Varieties that do well here

  • Walla Walla Sweet
  • Copra (stores well)
  • Redwing

Watch out for

Weeds outcompete onions' thin leaves. Keep the bed weeded and mulched.

Plant as soon as the soil is dry enough to work. Pick long-day varieties for the Northwest.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Burns, OR?

Typically June 11. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 28. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Burns Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant onions in Burns?

The spring planting window runs through June 4. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

How long until I can harvest onions?

About 110 days after planting. When the tops flop over in late summer, pull the onions and let them dry in a shady, airy spot for two weeks.

Also plant in Burns around the same time

Planting dates for onions in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Burns · Onions in every city