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When to Plant Angelica in Pembina County, ND

Pembina County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

Pembina County, North Dakota gardeners: here's your May plan

Your Pembina County, North Dakota garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for May and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost May 15
Avg. first frost September 28
Soil temp (4") 49°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Move angelica into the garden

    Frost risk is low now in Pembina County, North Dakota. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

  2. Seed angelica outdoors

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

June prep starts now
  • 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.

Pembina County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 958 feet, Pembina County receives approximately 26.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 79°F, so choose short-season varieties of Angelica to ensure they mature before fall.

Pembina County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Pembina County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.3

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 3 Transplant: May 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: May 23

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 Pembina County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.3) overlaps with Angelica's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

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
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 825 gal / 100 sq ft

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 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.7" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 3.2" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 6.5" 3.4" 3.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 2.7" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Pembina 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 ~5,064 GDD — county provides 1,258 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Pembina County, ND

Angelica 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
Fall Sowing July 6 Jul 6 – Jul 20

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1.5"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

365–730 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Pembina County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Pembina County

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

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

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

What planting zone is Pembina County, ND?

Pembina County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 28.

🌱

Your Pembina County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Pembina 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 Pembina 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.