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When to Plant Angelica in Hettinger County, ND

Hettinger County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

May in the garden — Hettinger County, North Dakota

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

Avg. last frost May 14
Avg. first frost September 27
Soil temp (4") 55°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Transplant angelica outside

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: angelica

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

Get ahead of 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.

Hettinger County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 762 feet, Hettinger County receives approximately 26.8 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.

Hettinger County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27
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Hettinger County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 13 Transplant: May 18

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 Hettinger County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4–7.7) is more alkaline than Angelica prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Hettinger 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 excellent (4.2%) — Angelica will thrive.

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
0.8″/week
You supply
1.4″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,630 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 3.5" 3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 1.7" 4.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 2.6" 3.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 6.5" 2.2" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Hettinger 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 1,768 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Hettinger County, ND

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 – May 28
Fall Sowing July 5 Jul 5 – Jul 19

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
July Fall Sowing
August
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 4a

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Hettinger County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Hettinger County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after May 14 in Hettinger County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 136.0-day growing season in Hettinger 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 Hettinger County, ND?

Hettinger County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 14. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hettinger County, ND?

Hettinger County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and first fall frost is September 27.

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Your Hettinger County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Hettinger 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 Hettinger 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.