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When to Plant Cumin in Kings County, NY

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.

Kings County, New York is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 505 feet, Kings County receives approximately 48.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cumin during the growing season.

Kings County, NY (Zone 7b) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Kings County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (67 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Sep 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 17

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Cumin needs ~1,842 GDD — county provides 3,819 GDD Excellent fit

Cumin Planting Timeline โ€” Kings County, NY

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors March 22 Mar 22 โ€“ Apr 5
Direct Sow March 15 Mar 15 โ€“ Apr 5
Fall Sowing September 3 Sep 3 โ€“ Sep 17
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Sep 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

Days to Maturity

100โ€“120 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 8

USDA Zone

Zone 7b

Growing Season

228 days

Growing Tips for Kings County

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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cumin in Kings County, NY?

Kings County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Cumin planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kings County, NY?

Kings County, New York is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Kings County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Kings County, NY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.