Best time to plant onion in Melbourne
Allium cepa
Also called bulb onion, common onion
Sow onion in Melbourne in Feb to Sep.
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.
When to sow in Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC is in the cool zone. Its months for onion apply here without a frost adjustment.
Matches local guides.
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Frost in Melbourne
Frost usually arrives in Melbourne around mid June and finishes by late August. In about 1 year in 10 it comes as early as late May or as late as late September, so frost-tender crops are planned around those dates.
From the average of its 2 Bureau of Meteorology stations, 1991 to 2020, counting a night at 2°C or lower as a frost. Frost hollows and hillsides can shift these dates by weeks, so ask the growers at your garden too.
On a shared plot: suits a plot
Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.
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.