Blog

When to Plant Chamomile in Jackson County, SD

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.

Jackson County, South Dakota is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 1,001 feet, Jackson County receives approximately 20.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80°F, so choose short-season varieties of Chamomile to ensure they mature before fall.

Jackson County, SD (Zone 5a) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Jackson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Chamomile Planting Timeline — Jackson County, SD

Chamomile Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 23
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Direct Sow April 30 Apr 30 – May 21
Harvest July 9 Jul 9 – Sep 17
Fall Sowing July 20 Jul 20 – Aug 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.6–7.5 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

137 days in Jackson County

Growing Tips for Jackson 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 Jackson County, SD?

Jackson County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 14. Plan your Chamomile planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jackson County, SD?

Jackson County, South Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and first fall frost is September 28.

🌱

Your Jackson County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Jackson County (Zone 5a). 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 Jackson County, SD. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.