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When to Plant Mint in Crook County, OR

Mint is a vigorous perennial herb with refreshing, aromatic leaves used in teas, cocktails, and cooking. It spreads aggressively by underground runners.

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 Mint 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 Mint's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“6.7) overlaps with Mint's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Mint

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/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 Mint

Mint needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mint 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 3" 0.9" 2.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3" 0.3" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 3" 0.4" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 3" 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.

Mint 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.

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

Mint Planting Timeline โ€” Crook County, OR

Mint 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

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

102 days in Crook County

Growing Tips for Mint in Crook County

Direct sow Mint 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 Mint (60.0-90.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Always grow mint in containers or with underground barriers to control spreading. Harvest regularly to keep plants compact. Cut plants back in late summer for a fresh fall flush.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Parsley

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mint in Crook County, OR?

Crook County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 9. Plan your Mint 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.