Best time to plant onion in Australia
Allium cepa
Also called bulb onion, common onion
Onions are grown for the bulb that forms at the base of a fan of blue-green, hollow leaves, swelling once day length reaches a certain point. Although often biennial or perennial by nature, the plant is normally harvested in its first season. Garlic, leek and chives are close relatives.
On a shared plot: suits a plot
Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.
When to sow
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoolMatches local guides | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | No | No | No |
| TemperateBroadly matches local guides, with some differences | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No |
| SubtropicalMatches local guides | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| TropicalMatches local guides | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| AridBroadly matches local guides, with some differences | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No | No |
Good months to sow
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly or raise seedlings
- Sowing depth
- 5mm
- Plant spacing
- 15cm
- Row spacing
- 40cm
- Germination
- 7-10 days at 20-25°C
- Frost
- Hardy, takes a light frost
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- biennial, usually grown as an annual
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.