diff --git a/changelog/1219.feature.rst b/changelog/1219.feature.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f74234f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/1219.feature.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Added ``--ramp`` to stagger when workers begin executing tests, while still
+allowing workers to start and collect tests normally.
diff --git a/docs/distribution.rst b/docs/distribution.rst
index d2d2cd9a..2cce8ba6 100644
--- a/docs/distribution.rst
+++ b/docs/distribution.rst
@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@ Parallelization can be configured further with these options:
 * ``--max-worker-restart``: maximum number of workers that can be restarted
   when crashed (set to zero to disable this feature).
 
+* ``--ramp=DURATION``: gradually start worker test execution over a duration.
+  Workers still start and collect tests normally, but each worker waits before
+  its first test according to its position in the worker pool. The duration is
+  specified in seconds by default and also accepts ``s``, ``m``, and ``h``
+  suffixes, for example ``--ramp=10s`` or ``--ramp=5m``.
+
 The test distribution algorithm is configured with the ``--dist`` command-line option:
 
 .. _distribution modes:
diff --git a/src/xdist/dsession.py b/src/xdist/dsession.py
index 47e1de7d..41e62d46 100644
--- a/src/xdist/dsession.py
+++ b/src/xdist/dsession.py
@@ -90,6 +90,13 @@ def pytest_sessionstart(self, session: pytest.Session) -> None:
         nodes = self.nodemanager.setup_nodes(putevent=self.queue.put)
         self._active_nodes.update(nodes)
         self._session = session
+        ramp = self.config.getoption("ramp")
+        if ramp:
+            workers = len(nodes)
+            workers_noun = "worker" if workers == 1 else "workers"
+            self.report_line(
+                f"ramping test start over {ramp:g}s across {workers} {workers_noun}"
+            )
 
     @pytest.hookimpl
     def pytest_sessionfinish(self) -> None:
diff --git a/src/xdist/plugin.py b/src/xdist/plugin.py
index d8553ce4..7dcdcdbb 100644
--- a/src/xdist/plugin.py
+++ b/src/xdist/plugin.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import math
 import os
 import sys
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
@@ -92,15 +93,13 @@ def _auto_num_workers_psutil(config: pytest.Config) -> int | None:
 
 
 def _auto_num_workers_os_sched_getaffinity(config: pytest.Config) -> int | None:
-    try:
-        from os import sched_getaffinity
-
+    sched_getaffinity = getattr(os, "sched_getaffinity", None)
+    if sched_getaffinity is not None:
         return len(sched_getaffinity(0))
-    except ImportError:
-        if os.environ.get("TRAVIS") == "true":
-            # workaround https://github.com/pypy/pypy/issues/2375
-            return 2
-        return None
+    if os.environ.get("TRAVIS") == "true":
+        # workaround https://github.com/pypy/pypy/issues/2375
+        return 2
+    return None
 
 
 def _auto_num_workers_os_multiprocessing_cpu_count(config: pytest.Config) -> int | None:
@@ -141,6 +140,32 @@ def parse_numprocesses(s: str) -> int | Literal["auto", "logical"]:
         return int(s)
 
 
+def parse_ramp_duration(s: str) -> float:
+    value = s.strip()
+    if not value:
+        raise pytest.UsageError("--ramp requires a duration")
+
+    unit = value[-1] if value[-1].isalpha() else ""
+    number = value[:-1] if unit else value
+    multipliers = {"": 1.0, "s": 1.0, "m": 60.0, "h": 3600.0}
+    if unit not in multipliers or not number:
+        raise pytest.UsageError(
+            "--ramp duration must be a non-negative number with optional s, m, or h suffix"
+        )
+
+    try:
+        seconds = float(number)
+    except ValueError as e:
+        raise pytest.UsageError(
+            "--ramp duration must be a non-negative number with optional s, m, or h suffix"
+        ) from e
+
+    if seconds < 0 or not math.isfinite(seconds):
+        raise pytest.UsageError("--ramp duration must be a non-negative finite value")
+
+    return seconds * multipliers[unit]
+
+
 @pytest.hookimpl
 def pytest_addoption(parser: pytest.Parser) -> None:
     # 'Help' formatting (same rules as pytest's):
@@ -178,6 +203,18 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser: pytest.Parser) -> None:
         help="Maximum number of workers that can be restarted "
         "when crashed (set to zero to disable this feature)",
     )
+    group.addoption(
+        "--ramp",
+        action="store",
+        default=0.0,
+        dest="ramp",
+        metavar="DURATION",
+        type=parse_ramp_duration,
+        help=(
+            "Gradually start worker test execution over the given duration. "
+            "Accepts seconds by default, or s, m, h suffixes."
+        ),
+    )
     group.addoption(
         "--dist",
         metavar="distmode",
diff --git a/src/xdist/remote.py b/src/xdist/remote.py
index 436b5ddf..409b90b0 100644
--- a/src/xdist/remote.py
+++ b/src/xdist/remote.py
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ def __init__(self, config: pytest.Config, channel: execnet.Channel) -> None:
         workerinput: dict[str, Any] = config.workerinput  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
         self.workerid = workerinput.get("workerid", "?")
         self.testrunuid = workerinput["testrunuid"]
+        self.rampdelay = float(workerinput.get("rampdelay", 0.0))
+        self._ramp_sleep_done = False
         self.log = Producer(f"worker-{self.workerid}", enabled=config.option.debug)
         self.channel = channel
         self.torun = TestQueue(self.channel.gateway.execmodel)
@@ -221,6 +223,7 @@ def run_one_test(self) -> None:
             assert self.nextitem_index is not None
             nextitem = items[self.nextitem_index]
 
+        self._sleep_before_first_test()
         worker_title("[pytest-xdist running] %s" % item.nodeid)
 
         start = time.perf_counter()
@@ -233,6 +236,13 @@ def run_one_test(self) -> None:
             "runtest_protocol_complete", item_index=self.item_index, duration=duration
         )
 
+    def _sleep_before_first_test(self) -> None:
+        if self._ramp_sleep_done:
+            return
+        self._ramp_sleep_done = True
+        if self.rampdelay > 0:
+            time.sleep(self.rampdelay)
+
     def pytest_collection_modifyitems(
         self,
         config: pytest.Config,
diff --git a/src/xdist/workermanage.py b/src/xdist/workermanage.py
index 201c8e71..c54b18fb 100644
--- a/src/xdist/workermanage.py
+++ b/src/xdist/workermanage.py
@@ -94,19 +94,23 @@ def setup_nodes(
     ) -> list[WorkerController]:
         self.config.hook.pytest_xdist_setupnodes(config=self.config, specs=self.specs)
         self.trace("setting up nodes")
-        return [self.setup_node(spec, putevent) for spec in self.specs]
+        return [
+            self.setup_node(spec, putevent, worker_index)
+            for worker_index, spec in enumerate(self.specs)
+        ]
 
     def setup_node(
         self,
         spec: execnet.XSpec,
         putevent: Callable[[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]], None],
+        worker_index: int = 0,
     ) -> WorkerController:
         if getattr(spec, "execmodel", None) != "main_thread_only":
             spec = execnet.XSpec(f"execmodel=main_thread_only//{spec}")
         gw = self.group.makegateway(spec)
         self.config.hook.pytest_xdist_newgateway(gateway=gw)
         self.rsync_roots(gw)
-        node = WorkerController(self, gw, self.config, putevent)
+        node = WorkerController(self, gw, self.config, putevent, worker_index)
         # Keep the node alive.
         gw.node = node  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
         node.setup()
@@ -299,17 +303,22 @@ def __init__(
         gateway: execnet.Gateway,
         config: pytest.Config,
         putevent: Callable[[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]], None],
+        worker_index: int = 0,
     ) -> None:
         config.pluginmanager.register(self.RemoteHook())
         self.nodemanager = nodemanager
         self.putevent = putevent
         self.gateway = gateway
         self.config = config
+        workercount = len(nodemanager.specs)
+        ramp = getattr(config.option, "ramp", 0.0)
+        rampdelay = ramp * worker_index / workercount if workercount and ramp else 0.0
         self.workerinput = {
             "workerid": gateway.id,
-            "workercount": len(nodemanager.specs),
+            "workercount": workercount,
             "testrunuid": nodemanager.testrunuid,
             "mainargv": sys.argv,
+            "rampdelay": rampdelay,
         }
         self._down = False
         self._shutdown_sent = False
diff --git a/testing/acceptance_test.py b/testing/acceptance_test.py
index 1b44985d..24611832 100644
--- a/testing/acceptance_test.py
+++ b/testing/acceptance_test.py
@@ -22,6 +22,22 @@ def test_ok():
         assert result.ret == 0
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*1 passed*"])
 
+    def test_ramp_reports_ramp_period(self, pytester: pytest.Pytester) -> None:
+        pytester.makepyfile(
+            """
+            def test_ok():
+                pass
+        """
+        )
+        result = pytester.runpytest("-n2", "--ramp=0.01s")
+        assert result.ret == 0
+        result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(
+            [
+                "ramping test start over 0.01s across 2 workers",
+                "*1 passed*",
+            ]
+        )
+
     def test_n1_fail(self, pytester: pytest.Pytester) -> None:
         p1 = pytester.makepyfile(
             """
diff --git a/testing/test_plugin.py b/testing/test_plugin.py
index 0aaee8c3..56ab5f4e 100644
--- a/testing/test_plugin.py
+++ b/testing/test_plugin.py
@@ -9,6 +9,30 @@
 from xdist.workermanage import NodeManager
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("value", "expected"),
+    [
+        ("10", 10.0),
+        ("10s", 10.0),
+        ("0.01s", 0.01),
+        ("5m", 300.0),
+        ("1h", 3600.0),
+    ],
+)
+def test_parse_ramp_duration(value: str, expected: float) -> None:
+    from xdist.plugin import parse_ramp_duration
+
+    assert parse_ramp_duration(value) == expected
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", ["", "-1", "-1s", "1d", "1ss", "soon"])
+def test_parse_ramp_duration_rejects_invalid_values(value: str) -> None:
+    from xdist.plugin import parse_ramp_duration
+
+    with pytest.raises(pytest.UsageError):
+        parse_ramp_duration(value)
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def monkeypatch_3_cpus(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
     """Make pytest-xdist believe the system has 3 CPUs."""
diff --git a/testing/test_remote.py b/testing/test_remote.py
index ae82e2b7..762c5734 100644
--- a/testing/test_remote.py
+++ b/testing/test_remote.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import pprint
 from queue import Queue
 import sys
+import time
 from typing import Any
 from typing import Callable
 from typing import cast
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@
 import execnet
 import pytest
 
+from xdist.remote import WorkerInteractor
 from xdist.workermanage import NodeManager
 from xdist.workermanage import WorkerController
 
@@ -92,6 +94,35 @@ class TestWorkerInteractor:
         [dict[str, Any]], Union[pytest.CollectReport, pytest.TestReport]
     ]
 
+    def test_ramp_delay_sleeps_once_before_first_test(
+        self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+    ) -> None:
+        slept: list[float] = []
+        monkeypatch.setattr(time, "sleep", slept.append)
+
+        interactor = WorkerInteractor.__new__(WorkerInteractor)
+        interactor.rampdelay = 0.25
+        interactor._ramp_sleep_done = False
+
+        interactor._sleep_before_first_test()
+        interactor._sleep_before_first_test()
+
+        assert slept == [0.25]
+
+    def test_ramp_delay_zero_does_not_sleep(
+        self, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+    ) -> None:
+        slept: list[float] = []
+        monkeypatch.setattr(time, "sleep", slept.append)
+
+        interactor = WorkerInteractor.__new__(WorkerInteractor)
+        interactor.rampdelay = 0.0
+        interactor._ramp_sleep_done = False
+
+        interactor._sleep_before_first_test()
+
+        assert slept == []
+
     @pytest.fixture
     def unserialize_report(self, pytestconfig: pytest.Config) -> UnserializerReport:
         def unserialize(
diff --git a/testing/test_workermanage.py b/testing/test_workermanage.py
index b3e8a1c7..4b393150 100644
--- a/testing/test_workermanage.py
+++ b/testing/test_workermanage.py
@@ -91,6 +91,55 @@ def test_popen_makegateway_events(
         hm.teardown_nodes()
         assert not len(hm.group)
 
+    def test_popen_makegateway_passes_stable_worker_index(
+        self,
+        config: pytest.Config,
+        monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    ) -> None:
+        worker_indices: list[tuple[str, int]] = []
+
+        class MockController:
+            def __init__(
+                self,
+                nodemanager: NodeManager,
+                gateway: execnet.Gateway,
+                config: pytest.Config,
+                putevent: object,
+                worker_index: int,
+            ) -> None:
+                worker_indices.append((gateway.id, worker_index))
+
+            def setup(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(workermanage, "WorkerController", MockController)
+        hm = NodeManager(config, ["popen//id=alpha", "popen//id=beta"])
+        hm.setup_nodes(None)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+
+        assert worker_indices == [("alpha", 0), ("beta", 1)]
+
+    def test_workerinput_includes_ramp_delay(self, config: pytest.Config) -> None:
+        from xdist.workermanage import WorkerController
+
+        class DummyManager:
+            testrunuid = "testrun"
+            specs = [execnet.XSpec("popen")] * 4
+
+        class DummyGateway:
+            id = "gw2"
+            spec = execnet.XSpec("popen")
+
+        config.option.ramp = 12.0
+        node = WorkerController(
+            nodemanager=DummyManager(),  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+            gateway=DummyGateway(),  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+            config=config,
+            putevent=lambda event: None,
+            worker_index=2,
+        )
+
+        assert node.workerinput["rampdelay"] == 6.0
+
     def test_popens_rsync(
         self,
         config: pytest.Config,