Planting Onion Transplants in January: Varieties and Timing for Georgia

Contrary to what you might think, January is an excellent time to plant onion transplants in Georgia. Onions thrive in cool weather—just look at how happily they grow in winter lawns!

The key is selecting the right varieties. For Georgia gardens, reliable bulbing onions include 'Walla Walla', 'Yellow Globe Danvers', 'Grano', 'Granex', and 'Juno'. Onion "sets" (small bulbs grown the previous year) should be planted 2–12 inches apart depending on bulb size.

Fertilize a couple of times during the growing season, and you'll harvest a bountiful crop in June. Don't let cold temperatures deter you—onions are remarkably cold-hardy and actually need the cool period to develop properly before summer heat triggers bulbing.