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When to Plant Cumin in Sauk County, WI

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.

Sauk County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 157 days.

At an elevation of 1,002 feet, Sauk County receives approximately 30.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cumin to ensure they mature before fall.

Sauk County, WI (Zone 5a) Moderate season
157 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
157 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7

Sauk County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Cumin Planting Timeline — Sauk County, WI

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 12
Transplant Outdoors April 26 Apr 26 – May 10
Direct Sow April 19 Apr 19 – May 10
Harvest August 9 Aug 9 – Oct 11
Fall Sowing July 29 Jul 29 – Aug 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Fall Sowing
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
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 5a

📆 Growing Season

157 days in Sauk County

Growing Tips for Sauk 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 Sauk County, WI?

Sauk County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your Cumin planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sauk County, WI?

Sauk County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 7.

🌱

Your Sauk County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Sauk County (Zone 5a). 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 Sauk County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: August 2026.

Sources & credits

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