When to plant scallion (green onion) in California
California spans USDA zones 6b–11a, so the right time to plant scallion (green onion) shifts by weeks across the state. The window to sow seed directly outdoors runs from about December 1 in San Mateo to May 12 in Truckee — below are local dates for 497 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Direct sow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 10b | January 2 | December 26 | December 5 – January 16 |
| San Diego | 10b | January 6 | December 21 | December 9 – January 20 |
| San Jose | 9b | January 2 | December 25 | December 5 – January 16 |
| San Francisco | 10a | December 30 | December 25 | December 2 – January 13 |
| Fresno | 9b | January 14 | December 14 | December 17 – January 28 |
| Sacramento | 9b | January 12 | December 16 | December 15 – January 26 |
| Long Beach | 10b | January 9 | January 5 | December 12 – January 23 |
| Oakland | 10a | January 7 | December 23 | December 10 – January 21 |
Scallion (Green Onion) in California: FAQ
When can I plant scallion (green onion) in California?
Across California, the time to direct-sow scallion (green onion) spans roughly December 1 in San Mateo to May 12 in Truckee, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the scallion (green onion) planting date vary across California?
Yes. California publishes 497 cities with their own frost dates, so the right scallion (green onion) planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
How long does scallion (green onion) take to grow in California?
Scallion (Green Onion) takes about 60–80 days to reach harvest once planted — check that this fits inside your city's frost-free season on its place page.
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