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When to Plant Cumin in Sheboygan County, WI

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin Zone 5b August

This month in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin

August is a pivotal month for Sheboygan County, Wisconsin gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 27
Avg. first frost October 17
Soil temp (4") 79°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.8 hrs
  1. Collect cumin at their peak

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

  2. Start your fall crops: cumin

    Fall crops get sweeter with a light frost. Don't be afraid of cool nights.

Before September arrives, get these ready
  • First harvests: cumin

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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.

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 710 feet, Sheboygan County receives approximately 30.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Cumin to ensure they mature before fall.

Sheboygan County, WI (Zone 5b) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 27
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Sheboygan County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Cumin Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Oct 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: Aug 3 – Oct 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (9 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Oct 20

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 Sheboygan County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.0) is within Cumin's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — 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.

Cumin Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Sheboygan 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 ~1,430 GDD — county provides 2,249 GDD Excellent fit

Cumin Planting Timeline — Sheboygan County, WI

Cumin Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 23 Mar 23 – Apr 6
Transplant Outdoors April 20 Apr 20 – May 4
Direct Sow April 13 Apr 13 – May 4
Harvest August 3 Aug 3 – Oct 5
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 – Aug 22

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
August Fall Sowing 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

100–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

173 days in Sheboygan County

Growing Tips for Cumin in Sheboygan County

Direct sow Cumin outdoors after April 27 in Sheboygan 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 Sheboygan County, WI?

Sheboygan County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 27. Plan your Cumin planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sheboygan County, WI?

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 27 and first fall frost is October 17.

🌱

Your Sheboygan County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Sheboygan County (Zone 5b). 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 Sheboygan 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.