Across the U.S., onions ripen from Florida (early April) all the way to Wyoming (mid-August). Hatched chalk is the early and late shoulder; the solid stretch is peak.
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.
U-pick onions?
U-pick onion fields are basically unheard of — buy braids and bags straight off the farm stand.
Frequently asked questions
When are onions in season?
It depends where you stand. Across the U.S., onions ripen from Florida (early April) all the way to Wyoming (mid-August). In most growing states the peak lands around August — your own state's row on the board above is the honest answer.
Which state has the longest onion season?
Hawaii, where the season runs early March to late October. Long seasons usually mean a big state with more than one growing region inside it.
When are onions in season near me?
Pick your state on the what's-in-season board (it remembers you), or jump to your state's row above — each one links to the full onion-and-state page.