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When to Plant Cumin in Love County, OK

Love County, Oklahoma Zone 8a May

Love County, Oklahoma gardeners: here's your May plan

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Love County, Oklahoma this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost March 26
Avg. first frost November 11
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.8 hrs

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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.

Love County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 230 days.

At an elevation of 821 feet, Love County receives approximately 24.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Cumin during the growing season.

Love County, OK (Zone 8a) Long season
230 days
Last Spring Frost March 26
230 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11
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Love County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Mar 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 20 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Sep 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (66 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 23

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 Love County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.3) is within Cumin's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Love County is excellent for Cumin — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) — Cumin will thrive.

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
0.4″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 147 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 1.7" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Apr 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.7" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.2" 0.8" 1.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Love County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 ~2,255 GDD — county provides 4,715 GDD Excellent fit

Cumin Planting Timeline — Love County, OK

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 19 Feb 19 – Mar 5
Transplant Outdoors March 19 Mar 19 – Apr 2
Direct Sow March 12 Mar 12 – Apr 2
Harvest July 2 Jul 2 – Sep 3
Fall Sowing September 2 Sep 2 – Sep 16

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

230 days in Love County

Growing Tips for Cumin in Love County

Direct sow Cumin outdoors after March 26 in Love 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.

Love County receives only 24" of rain annually. Cumin needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Love County, OK?

Love County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 26. Plan your Cumin planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Love County, OK?

Love County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 26 and first fall frost is November 11.

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Your Love County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Love County (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Love County, OK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.