When to Plant Chamomile in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Sydney), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Warm Temperate
In October the Warm Temperate zone normally runs 24°C by day and 13°C overnight, with about 66 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -1.5°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 153 postcodes, SILO.
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This Chamomile guide is written for the Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jul to Nov
- 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 Warm Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul D
- Aug D
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- 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 Warm Temperate 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
Warm Temperate 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 Warm Temperate
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 Sydney?
No. In the Warm Temperate zone the planting months are Jul to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Chamomile in Sydney?
Seed Collection lists July to November for temperate areas. Autumn sowing is also common in gardens, but only spring is on the chart we could read.
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 Sydney?
Recommended varieties for the Warm Temperate 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 Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.