When to Plant Chamomile in Pontiac, IL

One of the first steps you take when you are determining your gardening schedule is find your USDA Zone info. The most important data that the zone info tells us is average last frost and the lowest expected temperature for your area.

By looking at the USDA zone info for Pontiac you should be able to estimate when it's a good idea to plant chamomile.


Planting Calendar for Chamomile

Frost tolerance for chamomile: Tolerant of some frost.
When to plant: Up to 5 weeks before last frost.

Chamomile can survive in a little bit of cold which tells us that you can plant them just a bit earlier in the year than other frost tender plants.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Legend 
A good time to plant chamomile
Possibly ok, but a risky time to plant chamomile
Probably not a good time to plant chamomile

The earliest that you can plant chamomile in Pontiac is February. However, you really should wait until March if you don't want to take any chances.

The last month that you can plant chamomile and expect a good harvest is probably September. Any later than that and your chamomile may not have a chance to grow to maturity. Starting your chamomile indoors is a great way to get them started a couple of weeks earlier.

Last Frost Date

On average the last frost has passed is on April 15 in Pontiac. It might get as low as -15°F during the coldest months of winter.

Always keep in mind that the actual date of last frost may not be accurate from year to year because it is based on the USDA zone info for Pontiac and it can change quite a bit from year to year. Half of the time in Pontiac you get a frost after April 15 so always be ready to cover your chamomile if you have a surprise late frost.

USDA Zone Info for Pontiac

Here is the info for USDA Zone 5b.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)April 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)October 15
Lowest Expected Low-15°F
Highest Expected Low-10°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is -15°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near -10°F.

Plants to Grow in Pontiac

You may be interested in your other planting guides for Pontiac.