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When to Plant Cumin in McMinn County, TN

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.

McMinn County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 197 days.

At an elevation of 3,081 feet, McMinn County receives approximately 42.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Cumin during the growing season.

McMinn County, TN (Zone 7b) Moderate season
197 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
197 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23

McMinn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Cumin Planting Timeline — McMinn County, TN

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 – Apr 16
Harvest July 16 Jul 16 – Sep 17
Fall Sowing August 14 Aug 14 – Aug 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

📅 Days to Maturity

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

197 days in McMinn County

Growing Tips for McMinn 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 McMinn County, TN?

McMinn County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Cumin planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is McMinn County, TN?

McMinn County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 23.

🌱

Your McMinn County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for McMinn County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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

Sources & credits

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