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When to Plant Cumin in Adams County, NE

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.

Adams County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost is October 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 162 days.

At an elevation of 667 feet, Adams County receives approximately 34.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Cumin to ensure they mature before fall.

Adams County, NE (Zone 5a) Moderate season
162 days
Last Spring Frost April 29
162 growing days
First Fall Frost October 8

Adams County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Cumin

Cumin needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Cumin Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Adams County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Cumin Planting Timeline โ€” Adams County, NE

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 25 Mar 25 โ€“ Apr 8
Transplant Outdoors April 22 Apr 22 โ€“ May 6
Direct Sow April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ May 6
Harvest August 5 Aug 5 โ€“ Oct 7
Fall Sowing July 30 Jul 30 โ€“ Aug 13

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

100โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“8 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

162 days in Adams County

Growing Tips for Adams 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cumin in Adams County, NE?

Adams County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of April 29. Plan your Cumin planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Adams County, NE?

Adams County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is April 29 and first fall frost is October 8.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Adams County gardeners in Zone 5a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Adams County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.