When to Plant Chamomile in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Chamomile guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- All year
- 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 Tropical
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar D
- Apr D
- May D
- Jun D
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
You can sow chamomile in any month in Tropical, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Chamomile in Tropical 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
Tropical 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 Tropical
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 Cairns?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Tropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Seed Collection lists the tropics as a year round sowing zone. In the wet season mildew and damping off are likely, so the drier cooler months are the safer bet. Plants flower quickly in heat and give a short pick.
When should I plant Chamomile in Cairns?
Seed Collection lists the tropics as a year round sowing zone. In the wet season mildew and damping off are likely, so the drier cooler months are the safer bet. Plants flower quickly in heat and give a short pick.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.