Blog

When to Plant Chamomile in Wonewoc, WI

Juneau County, Wisconsin Zone 4b July

July in the garden — Juneau County, Wisconsin

July rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Juneau County, Wisconsin.

Avg. last frost May 5
Avg. first frost October 5
Soil temp (4") 71°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Collect chamomile at their peak

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

  2. Plant your fall garden: chamomile

    Fall crops get sweeter with a light frost. Don't be afraid of cool nights.

Get ahead of August
  • First harvests: chamomile

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Wonewoc, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost is October 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 153 days.

At an elevation of 1,397 feet, Juneau County receives approximately 38 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Chamomile to ensure they mature before fall.

Wonewoc, WI (Zone 4b) Moderate season
153 days
Last Spring Frost May 5
153 growing days
First Fall Frost October 5

Wonewoc Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Chamomile Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (27 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Sep 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (27 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Sep 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (22 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 9 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 24

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 Wonewoc

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–7.3) is within Chamomile's preferred range (5.6–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — Chamomile will thrive.

How to Plant Chamomile

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

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Chamomile

2
successive plantings in your 153-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 13.

Chamomile Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.7" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.7" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.7" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.7" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.7" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.7" 2.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Juneau 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 ~975 GDD — county provides 1,989 GDD Excellent fit

Chamomile Planting Timeline — Wonewoc, WI

Chamomile Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 7
Transplant Outdoors April 28 Apr 28 – May 12
Direct Sow April 28 Apr 28 – May 19
Harvest June 30 Jun 30 – Sep 8
Fall Sowing July 13 Jul 13 – Jul 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August 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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

153 days in Juneau County

Growing Tips for Chamomile in Wonewoc

Direct sow Chamomile outdoors after May 05 in Juneau 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 Juneau County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Juneau County (Zone 4b). 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 Juneau County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.