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When to Plant Hyssop in Stutsman County, ND

Stutsman County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

Top priorities for Stutsman County, North Dakota gardeners in May

Your Stutsman 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 9
Avg. first frost September 30
Soil temp (4") 53°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.9 hrs
  1. Transplant hyssop outside

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

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Hyssop is a semi-evergreen perennial herb with intense blue flower spikes that attract bees and butterflies. It has a minty, slightly bitter flavor used in liqueurs and teas.

Stutsman County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 144 days.

At an elevation of 907 feet, Stutsman County receives approximately 28.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Hyssop to ensure they mature before fall.

Stutsman County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
144 days
Last Spring Frost May 9
144 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30

Stutsman 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 (6 days to spare)
Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 17 – Sep 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Sep 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Oct 6

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 Stutsman County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.3) is within Hyssop's preferred range (6.0–8.0).

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Hyssop.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Hyssop will thrive.

How to Plant Hyssop

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Hyssop

2
successive plantings in your 144-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 02 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Hyssop

Hyssop needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Hyssop Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Stutsman County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Hyssop 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.

Hyssop needs ~860 GDD — county provides 1,548 GDD Excellent fit

Hyssop Planting Timeline — Stutsman County, ND

Hyssop Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 16 May 16 – May 30
Harvest July 25 Jul 25 – Sep 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

144 days in Stutsman County

Growing Tips for Hyssop in Stutsman County

Direct sow Hyssop outdoors after May 09 in Stutsman County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors or direct sow in spring. Prune back in early spring to encourage bushy growth. Hyssop is drought-tolerant once established and thrives in poor soil.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Radish

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Hyssop in Stutsman County, ND?

Stutsman County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 9. Plan your Hyssop planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Stutsman County, ND?

Stutsman County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 9 and first fall frost is September 30.

🌱

Your Stutsman County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Stutsman 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 Stutsman 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.