Chamomile is an annual plant with feathery leaves with very sweet aroma and is commonly used for herbal tea. Both the leaves and flowers of the plant are edible. Chamomile is a very easy to grow plant which resembles daisies with its white petals and yellow centre. Depending upon local climatic conditions, Chamomile can grow upto 30 to 40 inches. Chamomile flowers have a slight apple like taste and can be tossed in salads or sandwiches for enhancing the flavors and aromas or use in classical Chamomile tea which is known to soothe nerves and treat several skin conditions.
Growing guide for Chamomile Blossoms
Planting instructions
Plant Chamomile indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost.
For many regions, the ideal time will be in mid-February or early March.
Fill a seed tray with well-drained soil and simply scatter the seeds over 2-4 inches apart.
Keep the soil moist at 70 degrees F.
Sow the seeds directly in a garden as once their roots are established, they should not be transplanted.
Germination can occur in full sun to part shade. Seedlings are likely to emerge in 14-21 days.
Growing Requirements
Pests
One of the best things about growing Chamomile is the fact that they attract very few pests and bugs and even work as a pest repellent for other plants like cucumber.
Soil
Chamomile does not require very rich and organic soil and prefers a neutral pH ranging between 5.6 to 7.5.
Spot
Partial shade is the prefered spot for these plants.
Temperature
The seeds will germinate best at a temperature of 18 to 20°C(65-68°F)
Watering
Make sure that the soil is evenly moist. In case of excess water, make sure it does not stay and drains away quickly.
how to harvest
The ideal time to harvest chamomile flowers is in the morning, when the dew has evaporated and the sun is not that high.
Select the open flowers and pinch the stalk just below the head of the flower.
The bloomed ones will give you the chamomile seeds It will allow the plants to self-seed next year’s patch too.
