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When to Plant Anise in Summit County, OH

Anise is an annual herb grown for its licorice-flavored seeds and leaves. The seeds are used in baking, liqueurs, and traditional medicine worldwide.

Summit County, Ohio is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost is October 13, giving you a growing season of approximately 162 days.

At an elevation of 1,309 feet, Summit County receives approximately 33.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88ยฐF, providing good warmth for Anise during the growing season.

Summit County, OH (Zone 5b) Moderate season
162 days
Last Spring Frost May 4
162 growing days
First Fall Frost October 13

Summit County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Oct 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (1 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: Apr 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Oct 12
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 17 Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 14 – Oct 30

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 Summit County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8โ€“6.7) overlaps with Anise's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.0%) โ€” Anise will thrive.

How to Plant Anise

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
0.4″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Anise needs ~1,680 GDD — county provides 2,592 GDD Excellent fit

Anise Planting Timeline โ€” Summit County, OH

Anise Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 13
Transplant Outdoors April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ May 11
Direct Sow April 20 Apr 20 โ€“ May 11
Fall Sowing August 4 Aug 4 โ€“ Aug 18
Harvest July 27 Jul 27 โ€“ Oct 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.4"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

90โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

162 days in Summit County

Growing Tips for Anise in Summit County

Direct sow Anise outdoors after May 04 in Summit County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Anise in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost as anise has a taproot. Harvest seeds when they turn brown. Plants may need staking. The feathery leaves are also edible with a mild anise flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Carrots

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Anise in Summit County, OH?

Summit County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 4. Plan your Anise planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Summit County, OH?

Summit County, Ohio is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 4 and first fall frost is October 13.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Summit County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Summit County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.