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When to Plant Cumin in Tulsa County, OK

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.

Tulsa County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 752 feet, Tulsa County receives approximately 28.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cumin during the growing season.

Tulsa County, OK (Zone 7a) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Tulsa County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (39 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 3 Transplant: Mar 31 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Apr 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Oct 2

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 Tulsa County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8โ€“7.1) is within Cumin's preferred range (6.0โ€“8.0).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.6%). 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
0.6″/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€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 1.9" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Tulsa 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 3,535 GDD Excellent fit

Cumin Planting Timeline โ€” Tulsa County, OK

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 3 Mar 3 โ€“ Mar 17
Transplant Outdoors March 31 Mar 31 โ€“ Apr 14
Direct Sow March 24 Mar 24 โ€“ Apr 14
Harvest July 14 Jul 14 โ€“ Sep 15
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 โ€“ Aug 31

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 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: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

202 days in Tulsa County

Growing Tips for Cumin in Tulsa County

Direct sow Cumin outdoors after April 07 in Tulsa 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 Tulsa County, OK?

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

What planting zone is Tulsa County, OK?

Tulsa County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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