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When to Plant Cumin in Stevens County, WA

Cumin is a warm-season annual herb whose seeds are one of the most widely used spices globally. It requires a long, hot growing season of 3-4 months.

Stevens County, Washington is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 1,751 feet, Stevens County receives approximately 24.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Cumin to ensure they mature before fall.

Stevens County, WA (Zone 5b) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 24

Stevens County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Aug 8 – Oct 10
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Aug 16 – Oct 18
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 24 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Sep 4 – Nov 6

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Cumin needs ~1,348 GDD — county provides 1,678 GDD Good fit

Cumin Planting Timeline โ€” Stevens County, WA

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 17
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 โ€“ May 17
Fall Sowing July 16 Jul 16 โ€“ Jul 30
Harvest August 16 Aug 16 โ€“ Oct 18

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

Days to Maturity

100โ€“120 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 8

USDA Zone

Zone 5b

Growing Season

137 days

Growing Tips for Stevens County

Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before last frost. Transplant after all danger of frost. Harvest when seed heads turn brown. Requires consistent warmth for proper seed development.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cumin in Stevens County, WA?

Stevens County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Cumin planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stevens County, WA?

Stevens County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 24.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Stevens County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Stevens County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.