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When to Plant Lemon Thyme in Cornish, UT

Cornish, UT Zone 6a June

June in Cornish, UT — your action list

Your Cornish, UT garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for June and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost June 11
Avg. first frost September 2
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Get lemon thyme in the ground

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

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Lemon thyme is a low-growing perennial herb with tiny, citrus-scented leaves. It combines the savory quality of thyme with a bright lemon flavor, excellent with fish and poultry.

Cornish, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is June 11 and the first fall frost is September 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 83 days.

At an elevation of 6,265 feet, Cache County receives approximately 15.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Lemon Thyme to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Lemon Thyme successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Cornish, UT (Zone 6a) Very short season
83 days
Last Spring Frost June 11
83 growing days
First Fall Frost September 2

Cornish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Lemon Thyme Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Oct 2
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 18 🍅 Harvest: Aug 27 – Oct 29
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jul 1 🍅 Harvest: Sep 9 – Nov 11

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 Cornish

How your county's soil matches Lemon Thyme's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–8.4) overlaps with Lemon Thyme's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Cache County is excellent for Lemon Thyme — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Lemon Thyme.

How to Plant Lemon Thyme

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Lemon Thyme Water Budget

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

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Lemon Thyme

Lemon Thyme 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 Lemon Thyme Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 2.2" 1.1" 1.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jun–Sep in Cache County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Lemon Thyme 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.

Lemon Thyme needs ~1,040 GDD — county provides 1,079 GDD Good fit

Lemon Thyme Planting Timeline — Cornish, UT

Lemon Thyme Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors June 18 Jun 18 – Jul 2
Harvest August 27 Aug 27 – Oct 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May
June Transplant Outdoors
July Transplant Outdoors
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

83 days in Cache County

Growing Tips for Lemon Thyme in Cornish

Direct sow Lemon Thyme outdoors after June 11 in Cache County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 83.0-day growing season in Cache County is tight for Lemon Thyme (70.0-90.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

Cache County receives only 16" of rain annually. Lemon Thyme needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start from cuttings or divisions. Plant in well-drained soil. Trim back after flowering. Use as a fragrant ground cover or edging plant along garden paths.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌱

Your Cache County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Cache County (Zone 6a). 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 Cache County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.