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When to Plant Caraway in Lawrence County, OH

Caraway is a biennial herb grown for its distinctive crescent-shaped seeds used in rye bread, sauerkraut, and European cuisine. The leaves and roots are also edible.

Lawrence County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 181 days.

At an elevation of 1,332 feet, Lawrence County receives approximately 37.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Caraway during the growing season.

Lawrence County, OH (Zone 6b) Moderate season
181 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
181 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21

Lawrence County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 3

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 Lawrence County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8โ€“7.3) overlaps with Caraway's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) โ€” Caraway will thrive.

How to Plant Caraway

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

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 238 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Caraway needs ~6,826 GDD — county provides 3,031 GDD May not mature

Caraway Planting Timeline โ€” Lawrence County, OH

Caraway Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 19 Mar 19 โ€“ Apr 2
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 30
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 โ€“ Aug 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

365โ€“450 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

181 days in Lawrence County

Growing Tips for Caraway in Lawrence County

Direct sow Caraway outdoors after April 23 in Lawrence County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 181.0-day growing season in Lawrence County is tight for Caraway (365.0-450.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or fall. Caraway produces seeds in its second year. Harvest seed heads when they turn brown. The young leaves can be used like parsley.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Caraway in Lawrence County, OH?

Lawrence County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Caraway planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lawrence County, OH?

Lawrence County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lawrence County gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Lawrence County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.