Blog

When to Plant Chamomile in Clearwater County, ID

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.

Clearwater County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 134 days.

At an elevation of 7,800 feet, Clearwater County receives approximately 19 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Chamomile during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Chamomile successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Clearwater County, ID (Zone 5b) Short season
134 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
134 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Clearwater County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Chamomile

Chamomile needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Chamomile Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.3" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 1.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Clearwater County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Chamomile Planting Timeline โ€” Clearwater County, ID

Chamomile Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ Apr 26
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 24
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 24
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 โ€“ Sep 20
Fall Sowing July 20 Jul 20 โ€“ Aug 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

134 days in Clearwater County

Growing Tips for Clearwater 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chamomile in Clearwater County, ID?

Clearwater County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Chamomile planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clearwater County, ID?

Clearwater County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Clearwater County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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 Clearwater County, ID. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.