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When to Plant Angelica in Gage County, NE

Gage County, Nebraska Zone 6a May

This month in Gage County, Nebraska

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

Avg. last frost April 22
Avg. first frost October 12
Soil temp (4") 57°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Start angelica under lights

    Starting these indoors now means sturdy transplants ready the moment your soil warms up.

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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.

Gage County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is October 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 896 feet, Gage County receives approximately 23.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Angelica to ensure they mature before fall.

Gage County, NE (Zone 6a) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 12
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Gage County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: Apr 26

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 Gage County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4–7.8) is more alkaline than Angelica prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Angelica is a heavy drinker but your soil drains very quickly. Mulch heavily and consider drip irrigation.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.7%). 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
0.6″/week
You supply
1.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,549 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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 2.2" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
May 6.5" 3.2" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 4" 2.5" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 3" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 1.9" 4.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 1.7" 4.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Gage 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 ~7,118 GDD — county provides 2,249 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Gage County, NE

Angelica 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
Fall Sowing August 3 Aug 3 – Aug 17

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
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: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

173 days in Gage County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Gage County

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

Your 173.0-day growing season in Gage 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.

Gage County receives only 24" 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 Gage County, NE?

Gage County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Gage County, NE?

Gage County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is October 12.

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Your Gage County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Gage 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 Gage 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.