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When to Plant Cumin in Addy, WA

Stevens County, Washington Zone 6b June

What to do in June

Your garden in Stevens County, Washington is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this June.

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost September 24
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15.9 hrs
  1. Start cumin under lights

    These need a head start before your last frost (May 10). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

Get ahead of July
  • Fall sowing: cumin

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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.

Addy, Washington is in USDA Zone 6b. 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 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cumin to ensure they mature before fall.

Addy, WA (Zone 6b) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 24

Addy Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Cumin 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.

Soil Compatibility in Addy

How your county's soil matches Cumin's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.3) is more acidic than Cumin prefers (6.0–8.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — 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
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

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 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
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" 0.9" 1.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Stevens 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 ~1,348 GDD — county provides 1,678 GDD Good fit

Cumin Planting Timeline — Addy, WA

Cumin Planting Calendar

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

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

137 days in Stevens County

Growing Tips for Cumin in Addy

Direct sow Cumin outdoors after May 10 in Stevens County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Stevens County receives only 24" 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 →

🌱

Your Stevens County Garden Planner — Free

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

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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: June 2026.