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When to Plant Anise in Divide County, ND

Divide County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

This month in Divide County, North Dakota

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Divide County, North Dakota this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 20
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant anise

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

  2. Direct-sow anise

    These tolerate cool soil, so you're not gambling by sowing now.

June prep starts now
  • Starting indoors: anise
  • Fall sowing: anise

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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.

Divide County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 994 feet, Divide County receives approximately 20.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 79°F, so choose short-season varieties of Anise to ensure they mature before fall.

Divide County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 20

Divide County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 5 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 29
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Oct 2
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Aug 19 – Oct 14

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 Divide County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.6) overlaps with Anise's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.9%). Annual compost additions will help Anise.

How to Plant Anise

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
0.4″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.7" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.7" 1.3" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 1.7" 1.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.7" 2.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.7" 1.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Divide 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 ~971 GDD — county provides 1,184 GDD Good fit

Anise Planting Timeline — Divide County, ND

Anise Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 – Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 8 May 8 – May 22
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 – May 29
Harvest August 7 Aug 7 – Oct 2
Fall Sowing June 28 Jun 28 – Jul 12

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 Fall Sowing
July Fall Sowing
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.4"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

90–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Divide County

Growing Tips for Anise in Divide County

Direct sow Anise outdoors after May 15 in Divide County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 128.0-day growing season in Divide County is tight for Anise (90.0-120.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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 Divide County, ND?

Divide County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Anise planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Divide County, ND?

Divide County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 20.

🌱

Your Divide County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Divide County (Zone 4a). 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 Divide 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.