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When to Plant Angelica in Las Animas County, CO

Las Animas County, Colorado Zone 6a May

Las Animas County, Colorado gardeners: here's your May plan

May is a pivotal month for Las Animas County, Colorado gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost October 4
Soil temp (4") 49°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Transplant angelica outside

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: angelica

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Angelica is a dramatic biennial herb that can reach 6 feet tall with large compound leaves and globe-shaped flower clusters. All parts are edible with a sweet, celery-like flavor.

Las Animas County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 147 days.

At an elevation of 5,352 feet, Las Animas County receives approximately 20.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Angelica during the growing season.

Las Animas County, CO (Zone 6a) Short season
147 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
147 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4
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Las Animas County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: Apr 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 29 Transplant: May 27

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 Las Animas County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.9) is more alkaline than Angelica prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Las Animas County is excellent for Angelica — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Angelica.

How to Plant Angelica

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
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
1.1″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,449 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Angelica

Angelica needs approximately 1.5 inches of water per week (6.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Angelica Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 2.5" 4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 1.6" 4.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 1.7" 4.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 1.9" 4.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 1.5" 5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 1.8" 4.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Las Animas County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Angelica 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.

Angelica needs ~9,992 GDD — county provides 2,682 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Las Animas County, CO

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 – May 17
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 – May 17
Fall Sowing July 26 Jul 26 – Aug 9

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Fall Sowing
August Fall Sowing
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

365–730 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

147 days in Las Animas County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Las Animas County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after May 10 in Las Animas County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 147.0-day growing season in Las Animas County is tight for Angelica (365.0-730.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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

Las Animas County receives only 20" of rain annually. Angelica needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Sow fresh seeds in fall for spring germination. Provide rich, moist soil and partial shade. Harvest stems in the second year before flowering for candying or flavoring.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Angelica in Las Animas County, CO?

Las Animas County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Las Animas County, CO?

Las Animas County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is October 4.

🌱

Your Las Animas County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Las Animas County (Zone 6a). 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 Las Animas County, CO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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