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When to Plant Cumin in Webster County, KY

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.

Webster County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 208 days.

At an elevation of 2,039 feet, Webster County receives approximately 46.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cumin during the growing season.

Webster County, KY (Zone 6b) Long season
208 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
208 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Webster County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Sep 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 25

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 Webster County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“7.0) overlaps with Cumin's range (6.0โ€“8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). 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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

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 โ€” 4.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 5.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 4.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Webster County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~1,925 GDD — county provides 3,640 GDD Excellent fit

Cumin Planting Timeline โ€” Webster County, KY

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 โ€“ Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 13
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 13
Harvest July 13 Jul 13 โ€“ Sep 14
Fall Sowing August 22 Aug 22 โ€“ Sep 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

100โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“8 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

208 days in Webster County

Growing Tips for Cumin in Webster County

Direct sow Cumin outdoors after April 06 in Webster County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cumin in Webster County, KY?

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

What planting zone is Webster County, KY?

Webster County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is October 31.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Webster County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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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 Webster County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.