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When to Plant Chamomile in Lake County, CO

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.

Lake County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is June 21 and the first fall frost is August 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 70 days.

At an elevation of 7,687 feet, Lake County receives approximately 21.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Chamomile to ensure they mature before fall.

Lake County, CO (Zone 4a) Very short season
70 days
Last Spring Frost June 21
70 growing days
First Fall Frost August 30

Lake County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 5 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Oct 20
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 10 Transplant: Jun 14 🍅 Harvest: Aug 16 – Oct 25
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 16 Transplant: Jun 20 🍅 Harvest: Aug 22 – Oct 31

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Chamomile needs ~919 GDD — county provides 857 GDD Tight fit

Chamomile Planting Timeline โ€” Lake County, CO

Chamomile Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 24
Transplant Outdoors June 14 Jun 14 โ€“ Jun 28
Direct Sow June 14 Jun 14 โ€“ Jul 5
Fall Sowing June 7 Jun 7 โ€“ Jun 21
Harvest August 16 Aug 16 โ€“ Oct 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Start Indoors
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Fall Sowing
July Direct Sow
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

Soil pH

5.6 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 4a

Growing Season

70 days

Growing Tips for Lake County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chamomile in Lake County, CO?

Lake County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of June 21. Plan your Chamomile planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lake County, CO?

Lake County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is June 21 and first fall frost is August 30.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lake County gardeners in Zone 4a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Lake County, CO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.