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When to Plant Anise in Cuming County, NE

Cuming County, Nebraska Zone 5b May

Cuming County, Nebraska gardeners: here's your May plan

Your garden in Cuming County, Nebraska is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost April 22
Avg. first frost October 11
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: anise

    These need a head start before your last frost (April 22). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

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Anise is an annual herb grown for its licorice-flavored seeds and leaves. The seeds are used in baking, liqueurs, and traditional medicine worldwide.

Cuming County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is October 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 172 days.

At an elevation of 925 feet, Cuming County receives approximately 21.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Anise during the growing season.

Cuming County, NE (Zone 5b) Moderate season
172 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
172 growing days
First Fall Frost October 11

Cuming County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Sep 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Oct 16

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 Cuming County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) is within Anise's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Anise.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.3%). Annual compost additions will help Anise.

How to Plant Anise

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
0.4″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 4 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Anise

Anise needs approximately 0.4 inches of water per week (1.7" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Anise Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.7" 2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 1.7" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.7" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.7" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.7" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.7" 2.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.7" 1.3" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Anise 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.

Anise needs ~1,444 GDD — county provides 2,365 GDD Excellent fit

Anise Planting Timeline — Cuming County, NE

Anise Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 1
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 – Apr 29
Direct Sow April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 29
Harvest July 15 Jul 15 – Sep 30
Fall Sowing August 2 Aug 2 – Aug 16

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.4"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

90–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

172 days in Cuming County

Growing Tips for Anise in Cuming County

Direct sow Anise outdoors after April 22 in Cuming County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost as anise has a taproot. Harvest seeds when they turn brown. Plants may need staking. The feathery leaves are also edible with a mild anise flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Carrots

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Anise in Cuming County, NE?

Cuming County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Anise planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cuming County, NE?

Cuming County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is October 11.

🌱

Your Cuming County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Cuming County (Zone 5b). 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 Cuming County, NE. 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.