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When to Plant Chicory in McHenry County, ND

Chicory is a hardy perennial grown for its bitter leaves and roots. The roots can be roasted as a coffee substitute, and the leaves add complexity to salads.

McHenry County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 661 feet, McHenry County receives approximately 22.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Chicory to ensure they mature before fall.

McHenry County, ND (Zone 3b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 22

McHenry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Chicory Planting Timeline โ€” McHenry County, ND

Chicory Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 โ€“ May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 31
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 โ€“ Aug 30
Fall Sowing June 30 Jun 30 โ€“ Jul 14

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“85 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 3b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

128 days in McHenry County

Growing Tips for McHenry County

Sow seeds directly in spring. Thin plants to 8-12 inches apart. For forcing, dig roots in fall and replant in a dark, cool area to produce blanched chicons.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chicory in McHenry County, ND?

McHenry County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Chicory planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is McHenry County, ND?

McHenry County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help McHenry County gardeners in Zone 3b 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 McHenry County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.