Washington · Garden vegetables

Onion season in Washington

Typically mid-June to mid-October, with peak early July through mid-September.

Hatched chalk = early and late shoulders; solid = peak.

Walla Walla sweets open the season in early summer; Columbia Basin storage onions carry it into fall.

At a glance

Early

From mid-June — first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.

Peak

early July through mid-September — full stalls, full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.

Late

Through mid-October — quantity for preserving, and the stalls start dealing.

Season length

about 17 weeks end to end, shoulders included.

Onions

Look: Dry, papery skins with a tight, small neck and no green sprout poking from the top.
Feel: Rock hard through the shoulders — any softness at the neck means rot is starting inside.
Smell: Mild and faintly sweet through the skin; a strong oniony or musty smell signals a bruised or rotting bulb.
Tip: For sweets like Vidalias, pick the flattest bulbs on the table — the flatter the disc, the milder the bite.
Keeps: Cool, dark, dry pantry — storage types keep for months, sweet onions only a few weeks.

Chasing the season?

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The whole national sweep · everything in season in Washington

Frequently asked questions

When is onion season in Washington?

In Washington, the onion season typically runs mid-June to mid-October, with peak availability early July through mid-September. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.

Can I pick my own onions in Washington?

U-pick onion fields are basically unheard of — buy braids and bags straight off the farm stand. The best market weeks are early July through mid-September.

How long does onion season last in Washington?

about 17 weeks end to end — mid-June to mid-October. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.