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When to Plant Horehound in Somerset County, MD

Horehound is a woolly, drought-tolerant perennial herb traditionally used for cough remedies and candy. It has a distinctive bitter, menthol-like flavor.

Somerset County, Maryland is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 206 days.

At an elevation of 1,145 feet, Somerset County receives approximately 41.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Horehound during the growing season.

Somerset County, MD (Zone 7b) Long season
206 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
206 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1

Somerset County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 20

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
Horehound needs ~1,691 GDD — county provides 4,223 GDD Excellent fit

Horehound Planting Timeline โ€” Somerset County, MD

Horehound Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Harvest July 2 Jul 2 โ€“ Aug 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

Days to Maturity

75โ€“90 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 8

USDA Zone

Zone 7b

Growing Season

206 days

Growing Tips for Somerset County

Direct sow or start from divisions. Thrives in poor, dry soil. Harvest stems just before flowering. Deadhead to prevent aggressive self-seeding. Very drought-tolerant once established.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Horehound in Somerset County, MD?

Somerset County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Horehound planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Somerset County, MD?

Somerset County, Maryland is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is November 1.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Somerset 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 Somerset County, MD. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.