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When to Plant Angelica in Glacier County, MT

Glacier County, Montana Zone 4b May

This month in Glacier County, Montana

Each item below is timed to Glacier County, Montana's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 22
Avg. first frost September 18
Soil temp (4") 30°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Get angelica in the ground

    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.

  2. Plant angelica from seed, right in the garden

    Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. A single big planting means a single big glut.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • Fall sowing: 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.

Glacier County, Montana is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 22 and the first fall frost is September 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 119 days.

At an elevation of 8,147 feet, Glacier County receives approximately 13.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Angelica to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Angelica successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Glacier County, MT (Zone 4b) Short season
119 days
Last Spring Frost May 22
119 growing days
First Fall Frost September 18
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Glacier County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 10 Transplant: May 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 30 Transplant: Jun 4

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 Glacier County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–8.1) is more alkaline than Angelica prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). Annual compost additions will help Angelica.

How to Plant Angelica

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
1.2″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,310 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 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 1.6" 4.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 1" 5.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 1.3" 5.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 1.4" 5.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 1.1" 5.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Glacier 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 ~5,475 GDD — county provides 1,190 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Glacier County, MT

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 10 Apr 10 – Apr 24
Transplant Outdoors May 15 May 15 – May 29
Direct Sow May 15 May 15 – Jun 5
Fall Sowing June 26 Jun 26 – Jul 10

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Direct Sow Fall Sowing
July Fall Sowing
August
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 4b

📆 Growing Season

119 days in Glacier County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Glacier County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after May 22 in Glacier County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 119.0-day growing season in Glacier 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.

Glacier County receives only 13" 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 Glacier County, MT?

Glacier County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 22. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Glacier County, MT?

Glacier County, Montana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 22 and first fall frost is September 18.

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Your Glacier County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Glacier County (Zone 4b). 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 Glacier County, MT. 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.