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When to Plant Angelica in Furnas County, NE

Furnas County, Nebraska Zone 5b May

Top priorities for Furnas County, Nebraska gardeners in May

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 30
Avg. first frost October 7
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • 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.

Furnas County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 160 days.

At an elevation of 1,056 feet, Furnas County receives approximately 28.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Angelica during the growing season.

Furnas County, NE (Zone 5b) Moderate season
160 days
Last Spring Frost April 30
160 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7
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Furnas 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
Start indoors: Mar 20 Transplant: Apr 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 6

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 Furnas County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.2) overlaps with Angelica's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.2%). 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
0.8″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,267 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 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 2.9" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
May 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.6" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.8" 2.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 2.6" 3.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 1.8" 4.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Furnas 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 ~7,939 GDD — county provides 2,320 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Furnas County, NE

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 26 Mar 26 – Apr 9
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 – May 7
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 – May 7
Fall Sowing July 29 Jul 29 – Aug 12

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 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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

160 days in Furnas County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Furnas County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after April 30 in Furnas County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 160.0-day growing season in Furnas 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 Furnas County, NE?

Furnas County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 30. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Furnas County, NE?

Furnas County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 30 and first fall frost is October 7.

🌱

Your Furnas County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Furnas 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 Furnas 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.