How to Plant and Care for Chamomile from Seeds
Chamomile is a powerhouse herb employed for common ailments for thousands of years dating back to the Romans, Egyptians and Greeks. While typically brewed for a calming tea, the medicinal uses of chamomile include easing diaper rash and colic in infants, and cosmetically to add a warm brightness to blond hair. In the garden, chamomile works well in flower borders and in containers, and its cheerful daisy-like blooms, feathery foliage and tolerant nature lends itself to a variety of landscapes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden spade
- Organic compost
- Chamomile seeds
- Rake
- Garden hose with sprayer attachment
- Garden clippers
Instructions
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Prepare your soil in the spring after threat of frost is gone. Chamomile prefers a sunny location with slightly acidic well-drained soil with a pH range between 5.6 and 7.5. Remove rocks, sticks and weeds from the planting area. If the soil is poor, apply a 1-inch layer of organic compost and work it down to a depth of at least three inches with the spade, turning the soil over to incorporate the compost. Rake the soil surface until level.
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Water the planting area lightly with the sprayer until moist, but not puddling. Plant seeds in the spring or fall, by placing a seed every six inches on the surface of the soil. Chamomile is one of the few plants that require sunlight to germinate, so covering the seeds will inhibit sprouting. Another method is to freely broadcast the seeds over the planting area, but once sprouted the seedlings will need thinning to six inches apart. Germination occurs within 7 to 21 days. Lightly mist the soil without disturbing the seeds. Continue to water the plants whenever the surface of the soil is dry.
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Apply an organic fertilizer approximately every six weeks during the growing season, if desired. Mix and apply the fertilizer according to the packaging instructions. Chamomile does not need extensive fertilizing (and often does well with none at all), but modest applications may be helpful, as long as it contains some phosphorus and potassium as well as a small amount of nitrogen.
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Harvest the flowers when they are in full bloom. Pinch the flower heads off (also called dead-heading) just below the base. Place in a paper bag in a warm, dry location until dried. Most plants will continue to bloom when the spent flowers are removed. Leave some of the flowers on the plant to dry if you want the plant to reseed itself later.
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Remove annual chamomile completely at the end of the growing season, after the first frost. Cut perennial chamomile down to approximately five inches after the first frost, to ensure healthy growth the next year.
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Tips & Warnings
The two most commonly planted chamomiles are German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis). German chamomile is an annual with a bushy, upright growth habit, suitable for borders and beds, while Roman chamomile is a low-growing perennial with a creeping nature best used in lawns, as ground cover or in containers.
Chamomile is susceptible to insect pests such as aphids, mites and whiteflies.
Avoid using inorganic fertilizers and insecticidal products on chamomile used for tea or culinary purposes.Contact your local agricultural extension office for advice on how to approach organic chamomile cultivation and pest control.
References
Resources
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