Blog

When to Plant Angelica in Northampton County, PA

Northampton County, Pennsylvania Zone 7a May

Top priorities for Northampton County, Pennsylvania gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost April 20
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 61°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: angelica

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Northampton County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 187 days.

At an elevation of 354 feet, Northampton County receives approximately 49.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Angelica during the growing season.

Northampton County, PA (Zone 7a) Moderate season
187 days
Last Spring Frost April 20
187 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Northampton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.9-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Apr 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 3

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 Northampton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.9–6.7) overlaps with Angelica's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.4%). 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
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 654 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 3.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 6.5" 4.3" 2.2" 💧 Light watering
May 6.5" 3.9" 2.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 5.1" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 4.5" 2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 4.7" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 4.1" 2.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 6.5" 4.1" 2.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Northampton 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 ~8,349 GDD — county provides 2,851 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Northampton County, PA

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 16 Mar 16 – Mar 30
Transplant Outdoors April 13 Apr 13 – Apr 27
Direct Sow April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 27
Fall Sowing August 15 Aug 15 – Aug 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May
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 7a

📆 Growing Season

187 days in Northampton County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Northampton County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after April 20 in Northampton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 187.0-day growing season in Northampton 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 Northampton County, PA?

Northampton County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 20. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Northampton County, PA?

Northampton County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 20 and first fall frost is October 24.

🌱

Your Northampton County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Northampton County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Northampton 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.