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When to Plant Celtuce in Stevens County, WA

Celtuce (stem lettuce) is a Chinese vegetable grown for its thick, crunchy stem rather than its leaves. The peeled stem has a mild, cucumber-like flavor.

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 Celtuce 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

Monthly Watering Guide for Celtuce

Celtuce needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celtuce Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.3" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.9" 3.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.3" 4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.9" 3.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 4.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Celtuce Planting Timeline โ€” Stevens County, WA

Celtuce Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 24
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 โ€“ May 17
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 โ€“ Aug 23
Fall Sowing July 16 Jul 16 โ€“ Jul 30

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" 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 Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

137 days in Stevens County

Growing Tips for Stevens County

Direct sow in spring or start indoors. Space 12 inches apart. Harvest when stems are about 1 inch in diameter. Peel the tough outer skin to reveal the tender center.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celtuce in Stevens County, WA?

Stevens County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Celtuce 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.