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When to Plant Cumin in Crook County, OR

Crook County, Oregon Zone 6a July

Your July game plan for Crook County, Oregon

July is a pivotal month for Crook County, Oregon gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost June 9
Avg. first frost September 19
Soil temp (4") 75°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Start cumin indoors

    Your window is short. These crops want several weeks of indoor growth before they go outside.

  2. Kick off the fall garden with cumin

    A row cover ready in the garage extends your harvest by weeks once the nights turn cold.

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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.

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 85°F, providing good warmth for Cumin 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

Cumin Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 25 Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Sep 5 – Nov 7
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 5 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Sep 15 – Nov 17
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 18 Transplant: Jun 15 🍅 Harvest: Sep 28 – Nov 30

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 Cumin's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–6.7) overlaps with Cumin's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Crook County is excellent for Cumin — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.6%) — Cumin will thrive.

How to Plant Cumin

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

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Cumin 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 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Cumin

Cumin 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 Cumin Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 2.2" 0.9" 1.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 0.3" 1.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 2.2" 0.4" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 2.2" 1" 1.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jun–Sep in Crook County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Cumin 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Cumin needs ~1,512 GDD — county provides 1,402 GDD Tight fit

Cumin Planting Timeline — Crook County, OR

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 5 May 5 – May 19
Transplant Outdoors June 2 Jun 2 – Jun 16
Direct Sow May 26 May 26 – Jun 16
Harvest September 15 Sep 15 – Nov 17
Fall Sowing July 11 Jul 11 – Jul 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

102 days in Crook County

Growing Tips for Cumin in Crook County

Direct sow Cumin 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 Cumin (100.0-120.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

Common pests for Cumin in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Crook County receives only 21" of rain annually. Cumin needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cumin in Crook County, OR?

Crook County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of June 9. Plan your Cumin planting based on this frost date — 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.

🌱

Your Crook County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Crook County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Crook County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.