Chamomile Planting Guide

May

Growing chamomile in May

chamomile rewards gardeners who pay attention to a few basics. Here's what matters in May, wherever you're growing.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 60–90

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 8″

How to water chamomile
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for chamomile. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
Where to put chamomile
South-facing beds are ideal for chamomile. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant chamomile. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Find your zone's chamomile schedule →

Chamomile is a daisy-like herb famous for its calming, apple-scented tea. German chamomile is an annual while Roman chamomile is a perennial ground cover.

Matricaria chamomilla · Herb · Asteraceae family · 60–90 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Chamomile Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Chamomile?

Zone Compatibility for Chamomile Zones 3a – 9b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 8	Jul 10 – Sep 11
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 3	Jul 5 – Sep 6
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	Apr 29	Jul 1 – Sep 9
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	Apr 24	Jun 26 – Sep 4
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 18	Jun 20 – Aug 29
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 11	Jun 13 – Aug 22
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 3	Jun 5 – Aug 14
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Mar 27	May 29 – Aug 7
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 18	May 20 – Jul 29
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 13 – Jul 22
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 1	May 3 – Jul 12
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 18	Apr 22 – Jul 1
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 3	Apr 7 – Jun 16
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 18	Mar 22 – May 31

How to Plant Chamomile

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

5.6 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 9b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Asteraceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Asteraceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Chamomile

Chamomile matures in just 60–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Chamomile

✅ Good Companions

Cabbage Onion Mint

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Chamomile

Direct sow on the soil surface as seeds need light. Harvest flowers when petals begin to curl back. Chamomile self-sows freely and improves the health of nearby plants.

Saving Chamomile Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🪴

Fabric Grow Bags $10-25

Breathable fabric pots that promote healthy root growth and prevent overwatering.

🏺

Self-Watering Planters $15-40

Built-in reservoir keeps herbs and greens consistently watered with less effort.

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

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Chamomile by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Chamomile?

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) takes 60 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Chamomile grow in?

Chamomile can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 9b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Chamomile need?

Growing Chamomile requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.6 to 7.5.