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When to Plant Chamomile in Torrey, UT

Wayne County, Utah Zone 6a July

Top priorities for Wayne County, Utah gardeners in July

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Wayne County, Utah this July and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 14
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.4 hrs
  1. Start harvesting chamomile

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

  2. Sow chamomile for an autumn harvest

    A row cover ready in the garage extends your harvest by weeks once the nights turn cold.

August will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: chamomile

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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.

Torrey, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 141 days.

At an elevation of 7,565 feet, Wayne County receives approximately 22.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Chamomile during the growing season.

Torrey, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
141 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
141 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2

Torrey Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Chamomile Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Sep 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 3 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Oct 11

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 Torrey

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–7.8) overlaps with Chamomile's range (5.6–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Wayne County is excellent for Chamomile — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Chamomile.

How to Plant Chamomile

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Chamomile

2
successive plantings in your 141-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 04 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 24.

Chamomile Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Chamomile

Chamomile needs approximately 0.4 inches of water per week (1.7" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Chamomile Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.7" 2.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.7" 1.5" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Jul 1.7" 2.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.7" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.7" 1.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.7" 1.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Wayne County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Chamomile 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.

Chamomile needs ~1,088 GDD — county provides 2,044 GDD Excellent fit

Chamomile Planting Timeline — Torrey, UT

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 24 Jul 24 – Aug 7

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

0.4"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

141 days in Wayne County

Growing Tips for Chamomile in Torrey

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

Common pests for Chamomile in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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 →

🌱

Your Wayne County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Wayne County (Zone 6a). 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 Wayne County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.