Blog

When to Plant Cumin in Cornish, UT

Cornish, UT Zone 6a June

What to do in June

June is a pivotal month for Cornish, UT gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost June 11
Avg. first frost September 2
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant cumin

    Frost risk is low now in Cache County, Utah. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

  2. Kick off the fall garden with cumin

    Your first frost is about 11 weeks away — plenty of time for these to mature.

To set up a strong July, finish these tasks
  • Starting indoors: cumin

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Cornish, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 11 and the first fall frost is September 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 83 days.

At an elevation of 6,265 feet, Cache County receives approximately 15.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cumin to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Cumin successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Cornish, UT (Zone 6a) Very short season
83 days
Last Spring Frost June 11
83 growing days
First Fall Frost September 2
Share this guide:

Cornish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Cumin Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Aug 21 – Oct 23
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 7 Transplant: Jun 4 🍅 Harvest: Sep 17 – Nov 19
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 20 Transplant: Jun 17 🍅 Harvest: Sep 30 – Dec 2

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 Cornish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–8.4) overlaps with Cumin's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Cumin.

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
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 — 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 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 2.2" 1.1" 1.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jun–Sep in Cache 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 ~1,430 GDD — county provides 1,079 GDD May not mature

Cumin Planting Timeline — Cornish, UT

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Transplant Outdoors June 4 Jun 4 – Jun 18
Direct Sow May 28 May 28 – Jun 18
Harvest September 17 Sep 17 – Nov 19
Fall Sowing June 24 Jun 24 – Jul 8

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 Fall Sowing
July Fall Sowing
August
September Harvest
October Harvest
November Harvest
December
Share this guide:

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

83 days in Cache County

Growing Tips for Cumin in Cornish

Direct sow Cumin outdoors after June 11 in Cache County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 83.0-day growing season in Cache 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.

Cache County receives only 16" 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 Cache County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Cache 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.

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 Cache County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.