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When to Plant Anise in Stephens County, OK

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

Stephens County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 209 days.

At an elevation of 979 feet, Stephens County receives approximately 26.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Anise during the growing season.

Stephens County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
209 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
209 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1

Stephens County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 21 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 20 – Sep 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Sep 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (57 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Sep 23

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 Stephens County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.6) overlaps with Anise's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) 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
0.5″/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

Monthly Watering Guide for Anise

Anise needs approximately 0.4 inches of water per week (1.7" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Anise Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 1.7" 2.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 1.7" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.7" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.7" 3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.7" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.7" 2.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.7" 1.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 1.7" 0.8" 0.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Nov in Stephens County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Anise 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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.

Anise needs ~1,838 GDD — county provides 3,657 GDD Excellent fit

Anise Planting Timeline โ€” Stephens County, OK

Anise Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 โ€“ Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 13
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 โ€“ Apr 13
Harvest June 29 Jun 29 โ€“ Sep 14
Fall Sowing August 23 Aug 23 โ€“ Sep 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing Harvest
October โ€”
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 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

209 days in Stephens County

Growing Tips for Anise in Stephens County

Direct sow Anise outdoors after April 06 in Stephens 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Anise in Stephens County, OK?

Stephens County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 6. Plan your Anise planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stephens County, OK?

Stephens County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is November 1.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Stephens County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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