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When to Plant Angelica in Bayfield County, WI

Bayfield County, Wisconsin Zone 4b May

Top priorities for Bayfield County, Wisconsin gardeners in May

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

Avg. last frost May 14
Avg. first frost October 3
Soil temp (4") 51°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.8 hrs
  1. Get angelica in the ground

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Scatter angelica into prepared beds

    Mark the row. Birds and stray feet both have opinions about unmarked beds.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • 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.

Bayfield County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is October 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 142 days.

At an elevation of 619 feet, Bayfield County receives approximately 36.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Angelica to ensure they mature before fall.

Bayfield County, WI (Zone 4b) Short season
142 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
142 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3
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Bayfield County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Mar 26 Transplant: Apr 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Start indoors: Apr 20 Transplant: May 25

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 Bayfield County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–6.8) is within Angelica's preferred range (5.5–7.0).

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Bayfield 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
1.1″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 633 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

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 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 6.5" 4.4" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 6.5" 4.7" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 6.5" 4.4" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 6.5" 3.4" 3.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 6.5" 3.2" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 6.5" 3.1" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Bayfield 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 ~5,475 GDD — county provides 1,420 GDD May not mature

Angelica Planting Timeline — Bayfield County, WI

Angelica Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 2 Apr 2 – Apr 16
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Direct Sow May 7 May 7 – May 28
Fall Sowing July 11 Jul 11 – Jul 25

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
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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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

142 days in Bayfield County

Growing Tips for Angelica in Bayfield County

Direct sow Angelica outdoors after May 14 in Bayfield County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 142.0-day growing season in Bayfield 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 Bayfield County, WI?

Bayfield County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 14. Plan your Angelica planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bayfield County, WI?

Bayfield County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 14 and first fall frost is October 3.

🌱

Your Bayfield County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Bayfield County (Zone 4b). 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 Bayfield County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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