herb ยท direct sow ยท beginner friendly

German Chamomile: how much to plant.

A family of 4 eating german chamomile a few times a week needs about 40 plants in ~27 sq ft, worth about $48 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.

How much to plant

Plants, space, seeds, and value.

Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$8.00/lb retail โ€” an estimate that varies by region and season.

HouseholdPlantsBed spaceSeeds to buyStore value / yr
1 person10~7 sq ft~20~$12
2 people20~14 sq ft~40~$24
4 people40~27 sq ft~80~$48
6 people60~40 sq ft~120~$72

Spacing

8" in row ยท 12" between rows

Sow depth

0"

Days to harvest

63 from seed

When to plant

Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.

Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.

ZoneSpring sow windowFall sow window
Zone 3May 1 โ€“ Jun 12โ€”
Zone 4Apr 26 โ€“ Jun 7โ€”
Zone 5Apr 16 โ€“ May 28โ€”
Zone 6Apr 6 โ€“ May 18โ€”
Zone 7Mar 22 โ€“ May 3โ€”
Zone 8Mar 11 โ€“ Apr 22โ€”
Zone 9Feb 6 โ€“ Mar 20โ€”
Zone 10Jan 17 โ€“ Feb 28โ€”

Know before you grow

The practical stuff.

Yield

About 0.15 lbs per plant over ~8 productive weeks (~0.15 lb).

Watch for

Aphids ยท Spider mites ยท Downy & powdery mildew ยท Japanese beetles โ€” the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.

Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.

Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code โ€” not just your zone โ€” in about 60 seconds.