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When to Plant Angelica in Dickey County, ND

Dickey County, North Dakota Zone 4b May

What to do in May

A quick May briefing for Dickey County, North Dakota gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost September 29
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Time to transplant angelica

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

  2. Plant angelica from seed, right in the garden

    Rake a smooth bed, make a shallow furrow, drop seeds at the spacing on the packet, water gently, walk away.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • 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.

Dickey County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 550 feet, Dickey County receives approximately 20.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Angelica to ensure they mature before fall.

Dickey County, ND (Zone 4b) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
142 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Dickey County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: Apr 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12

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 Dickey County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.7) is more alkaline than Angelica prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Dickey 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 (3.5%). 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
0.6″/week
You supply
1.6″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,020 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 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 6.5" 3.1" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 3.1" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 2" 4.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Dickey 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 ~5,886 GDD — county provides 1,526 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Dickey County, ND

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 12
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 – May 17
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 – May 24
Fall Sowing July 7 Jul 7 – Jul 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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

142 days in Dickey County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Dickey County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after May 10 in Dickey County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 142.0-day growing season in Dickey 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.

Dickey County receives only 21" 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 Dickey County, ND?

Dickey County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dickey County, ND?

Dickey County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 29.

🌱

Your Dickey County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Dickey 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 Dickey County, ND. 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.