Blog

When to Plant Garlic Chives in Crook County, OR

Garlic chives are a perennial herb with flat leaves that have a mild garlic flavor. They produce attractive white flower clusters and are used in Asian cooking.

Crook County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 9 and the first fall frost is September 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 102 days.

At an elevation of 2,233 feet, Crook County receives approximately 21 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Garlic Chives during the growing season.

Crook County, OR (Zone 6a) Short season
102 days
Last Spring Frost June 9
102 growing days
First Fall Frost September 19

Crook County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 6 🍅 Harvest: Aug 8 – Oct 17
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Oct 27
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 29 🍅 Harvest: Aug 31 – Nov 9

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.

Soil Compatibility in Crook County

How your county's soil matches Garlic Chives's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“6.7) overlaps with Garlic Chives's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Crook County is excellent for Garlic Chives โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.6%) โ€” Garlic Chives will thrive.

How to Plant Garlic Chives

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Garlic Chives

Garlic Chives needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Garlic Chives Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Jun 2.2" 0.9" 1.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 0.3" 1.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 2.2" 0.4" 1.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 2.2" 1" 1.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Junโ€“Sep in Crook County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Garlic Chives Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Garlic Chives needs ~1,031 GDD — county provides 1,402 GDD Excellent fit

Garlic Chives Planting Timeline โ€” Crook County, OR

Garlic Chives Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors June 16 Jun 16 โ€“ Jun 30
Harvest August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Oct 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May โ€”
June Transplant Outdoors
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

102 days in Crook County

Growing Tips for Garlic Chives in Crook County

Direct sow Garlic Chives outdoors after June 09 in Crook County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 102.0-day growing season in Crook County is tight for Garlic Chives (60.0-90.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

Common pests for Garlic Chives in this region include onion maggots and thrips. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Crook County receives only 21" of rain annually. Garlic Chives needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start from seed or divisions. Cut flower stalks before seeds set to prevent aggressive self-seeding. Both leaves and flower buds are edible and flavorful.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Peas
  • Green Beans

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Garlic Chives in Crook County, OR?

Crook County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 9. Plan your Garlic Chives planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Crook County, OR?

Crook County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 9 and first fall frost is September 19.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Crook County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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