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When to Plant Angelica in St. Francois County, MO

St. Francois County, Missouri Zone 6b May

May in St. Francois County, Missouri — your action list

A quick May briefing for St. Francois County, Missouri gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 16
Avg. first frost October 21
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14 hrs
  1. Time to start angelica inside

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

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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.

St. Francois County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 188 days.

At an elevation of 808 feet, St. Francois County receives approximately 41 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Angelica during the growing season.

St. Francois County, MO (Zone 6b) Moderate season
188 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
188 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21
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St. Francois County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 4 Transplant: Apr 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 25 Transplant: Apr 22

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 St. Francois County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–7.0) overlaps with Angelica's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Angelica.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). 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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 269 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 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 4.3" 2.2" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 5.4" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 5" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4.6" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 3.1" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in St. Francois 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 3,431 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — St. Francois County, MO

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 12 Aug 12 – Aug 26

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
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

365–730 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

188 days in St. Francois County

Growing Tips for Angelica in St. Francois County

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

Your 188.0-day growing season in St. Francois 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 St. Francois County, MO?

St. Francois County is in Zone 6b 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 St. Francois County, MO?

St. Francois County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 21.

🌱

Your St. Francois County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for St. Francois County (Zone 6b). 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 St. Francois County, MO. 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.