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When to Plant Angelica in Carbon County, PA

Carbon County, Pennsylvania Zone 6b May

May to-do list for Carbon County, Pennsylvania

A quick May briefing for Carbon County, Pennsylvania gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 26
Avg. first frost October 19
Soil temp (4") 57°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Indoor seed-starting week for angelica

    You're about 23 weeks out from your last frost — the perfect window to get these germinating indoors.

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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.

Carbon County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost is October 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 1,110 feet, Carbon County receives approximately 44.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Angelica to ensure they mature before fall.

Carbon County, PA (Zone 6b) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 26
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 19

Carbon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 12
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Apr 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 7

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 Carbon County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.8–6.2) overlaps with Angelica's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.5%). Annual compost additions will help Angelica.

How to Plant Angelica

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

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 697 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 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 3.9" 2.6" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 3.6" 2.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.2" 2.3" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 4.5" 2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4" 2.5" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 4" 2.5" 💧 Light watering
Oct 6.5" 3.7" 2.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Carbon 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 2,288 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Carbon County, PA

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 5
Transplant Outdoors April 19 Apr 19 – May 3
Direct Sow April 12 Apr 12 – May 3
Fall Sowing August 10 Aug 10 – Aug 24

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July
August Fall Sowing
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 6b

📆 Growing Season

176 days in Carbon County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Carbon County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after April 26 in Carbon County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 176.0-day growing season in Carbon 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 Carbon County, PA?

Carbon County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 26. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Carbon County, PA?

Carbon County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 26 and first fall frost is October 19.

🌱

Your Carbon County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Carbon County (Zone 6b). 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 Carbon County, PA. 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.