When to Plant Chamomile in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Chamomile guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Aug to Sep
- Days to harvest
- about 13 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
German chamomile is a hardy annual with small white daisy flowers used for tea. It likes full sun and cool weather. Picking often keeps it flowering.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug D
- Sep D
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Chamomile in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Well drained soil in full sun (Seed Collection).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun, 6 or more hours a day (Seed Collection).
- Spacing
- 30cm apart
- Watering
- Regular water, moist but not soggy. Mulch to hold moisture (Seeds of Plenty).
- Good companions
- Onion, Garlic, Cabbage, Broccoli, Kale
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Chamomile
Recommended Varieties
- German chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Key Challenges
- Mildew in humid weather
- Short flowering season in heat
Pro Tips
- Sow in cool weather
- Pick flowers regularly
Pests and problems for Chamomile in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Chamomile
When ready: Pick blooms regularly while the petals are open flat. Late picking is bitterer (Seeds of Plenty).
How to harvest: Pinch or snip the flower heads.
Storing and preserving chamomile
How to keep it
- Drying. Dry the flower heads in a shady, airy spot until crisp, then store in a jar.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Chamomile
When do you plant chamomile in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): all year
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jul to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Aug to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jul to Nov
Can you grow chamomile all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Aug to Sep. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Chamomile in Alice Springs?
Seed Collection lists August and September only for the arid zone (read from the page markup, not confirmed visually). Needs regular water and some afternoon shade, and heat cuts the season short.
What soil temperature do Chamomile need?
Chamomile germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Chamomile are ready to harvest?
Pick blooms regularly while the petals are open flat. Late picking is bitterer (Seeds of Plenty).
What are the best Chamomile varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita).
What grows well with Chamomile?
Good companion plants for Chamomile include: Onion, Garlic, Cabbage, Broccoli, Kale.
Are chamomile salt tolerant?
Only a little. Chamomile are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.