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When to Plant Chamomile in Sawyer County, WI

Sawyer County, Wisconsin Zone 4a May

May to-do list for Sawyer County, Wisconsin

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

Avg. last frost May 17
Avg. first frost September 25
Soil temp (4") 50°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. Move chamomile from tray to bed

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: chamomile

    Your soil is 50°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

Get ahead of June
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Sawyer County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 131 days.

At an elevation of 815 feet, Sawyer County receives approximately 36.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 78°F, so choose short-season varieties of Chamomile to ensure they mature before fall.

Sawyer County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
131 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
131 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Sawyer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 20 Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Oct 5

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 Sawyer County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1–7.1) is within Chamomile's preferred range (5.6–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.0%) — 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 131-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 03.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.4″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/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 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 1.7" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.7" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.7" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.7" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.7" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Sawyer 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 ~638 GDD — county provides 1,113 GDD Excellent fit

Chamomile Planting Timeline — Sawyer County, WI

Chamomile Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 – May 24
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 – Sep 20
Fall Sowing July 3 Jul 3 – Jul 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
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 4a

📆 Growing Season

131 days in Sawyer County

Growing Tips for Chamomile in Sawyer County

Direct sow Chamomile outdoors after May 17 in Sawyer 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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chamomile in Sawyer County, WI?

Sawyer County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Chamomile planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sawyer County, WI?

Sawyer County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 25.

🌱

Your Sawyer County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Sawyer County (Zone 4a). 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 Sawyer County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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