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When to Plant Yarrow in Stutsman County, ND

Stutsman County, North Dakota Zone 4a May

What to do in May

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

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. Harden off and plant yarrow

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

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Yarrow is a drought-tolerant perennial herb with feathery foliage and flat-topped flower clusters in white, yellow, pink, or red. It attracts beneficial insects and is used in herbal medicine.

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 Yarrow 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) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Oct 2
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Oct 10
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Aug 25 – Oct 20

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 Yarrow's growing requirements.

Soil pH

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

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Yarrow.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Yarrow

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

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 Yarrow

Yarrow 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 Yarrow 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.

Yarrow 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.

Yarrow needs ~1,129 GDD — county provides 1,548 GDD Excellent fit

Yarrow Planting Timeline — Stutsman County, ND

Yarrow Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 16 May 16 – May 30
Harvest August 15 Aug 15 – Oct 10

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

90–120 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

📆 Growing Season

144 days in Stutsman County

Growing Tips for Yarrow in Stutsman County

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

Common pests for Yarrow in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow or start from divisions. Yarrow thrives in poor soil and is very drought-tolerant. Deadhead to encourage reblooming. Divide clumps every 3 years.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Yarrow in Stutsman County, ND?

Stutsman County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 9. Plan your Yarrow 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.

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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.