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When to Plant Angelica in Hendricks County, IN

Hendricks County, Indiana Zone 6a May

Your May gardening checklist

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this May, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost April 16
Avg. first frost October 19
Soil temp (4") 61°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for angelica

    A seed-starting mix and a sunny window (or a grow light) are all you need. Keep soil warm — around 70°F — for fast germination.

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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.

Hendricks County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 186 days.

At an elevation of 1,286 feet, Hendricks County receives approximately 32.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Angelica during the growing season.

Hendricks County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
186 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
186 growing days
First Fall Frost October 19

Hendricks County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: Apr 25

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 Hendricks County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.2) overlaps with Angelica's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.2%) — Angelica will thrive.

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,531 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 3" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
May 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 3.1" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 2.3" 4.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Hendricks 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 ~8,760 GDD — county provides 2,976 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Hendricks County, IN

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 – Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 23
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 23
Fall Sowing August 10 Aug 10 – Aug 24

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

186 days in Hendricks County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Hendricks County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after April 16 in Hendricks County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 186.0-day growing season in Hendricks 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.

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 Hendricks County, IN?

Hendricks County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hendricks County, IN?

Hendricks County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 19.

🌱

Your Hendricks County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Hendricks 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 Hendricks County, IN. 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.