Growing German Chamomile
I first grew German chamomile with the intent of making tea. As with new ventures, I was skeptical of success. Fortunately, I was proven wrong. Not only did it turn out to be easy to grow, the tea is wonderful. Cleanup after harvest consists of chopping down the two foot stalks and tossing them into the compost pile. I grew mine from seed which I planted in the fall (in the Midwest). Though an annual, self-seeding provides chamomile year after year.
Two main types of chamomile exist: German chamomile and Roman chamomile. The first is an annual that grows to about 2-3 feet, while the second is a perennial that grows to be about 4-12 inches. Both varieties of chamomile reseed themselves, so you don’t need to plant too often.
Chamomile is a member of the ragweed family, so it’s not recommended for anyone with moderate to severe ragweed allergies. German chamomile seeds are one of the few seeds that need light to germinate, Also spelled camomile, this herb is a native of Europe, and was brought by early settlers to North America.
Chamomile may be considered a noxious weed or invasive plant in some areas. Chamomile attract bees, butterflies, and birds and has fragrant blossoms.
Growing German Chamomile
From Established Plants
Buy healthy, green plants with no signs of wilting or disease. Plants should be stocky with plenty of leaves. It's actually a plus if they don't have any flowers - they'll divert their early energy into root development rather than flowering. It also needs light to germinate.
From Seed
Scatter the seed on top of the potting soil and press down. Choose a site in full sun with average to rich, well-drained soil. Plant seedlings in spring or mid fall, spacing them 6 inches apart for a carpetlike ground cover effect, or 18 inches apart in herb and flower gardens. Keep soil evenly moist. Mulching is a good idea. Trim faded flowers or shear the plant occasionally to promote new blooms. Fertilize (I use 10-10-10) every four to six weeks, or work in a slow-release fertilizer at planting time. Tear out faded annual types of chamomile at the end of the season, once frost fells them. Cut back perennial types to just 2 or 3 inches.
Harvesting Chamomile
Plan on harvesting chamomile in the morning sunlight after all the dew is gone. The plant should be completely dry! The flower part, petals and all, is what you are after. Flowers tend to open up in the morning and will close up when the sun begins to go down. Shake the plant gently to remove any pests or debris. There are two ways you can do this and each has its benefits: (1) Pinch the flowers off at the stem or cut with gardening shears just below the flower head. Pinching the flowers will allow regrowth of the plant pretty quickly. Use this method if you want a continual harvest. Cutting only the flowers will require using a drying screen. (2) Cut the stems with the flowers attached about 2-3 inches down the stem. Cutting the stems will take longer for the plant to rejuvenate, but you will be able to dry the chamomile by hanging it up in bunches with twine. Either way, once you have the harvest, find a very warm area in your house or garage. Closets make a good choice. Make sure there is no moisture present and keep the chamomile out of sunlight. Any herb will turn moldy if these conditions are present. Dry, dark and hot is what you want. Check on the drying process frequently. Once dried, if you chose to dry the herb by hanging it by the stem, now is the time to remove the flower only. Toss the stem.
Storing Chamomile
Place the chamomile in airtight dry glass containers and keep out of sunlight. It is best not to break apart the flower head until you are ready to use it. Keep as much of it intact as possible.
Making Chamomile Tea
To prepare tea, pour 8 oz. of boiling water over 2 tbsp. of dried chamomile blossoms. Allow the blossoms to steep for 4 to 5 minutes, then strain the tea into a tea cup. Add honey and a thin slice of lemon, if you like.
Specifications
Water Requirements:Water on a regular schedule, taking care to not overwater.
Potential Pests & Diseases: Aphids, mealybug. Minimal disease issues.
Growing Cultures: Outdoors, containers, landscaping, mass plantings. German chamomile not recommended for containers.
Plant Height: Chamomile grows to a height of 20 to 30 inches (50 - 70cm).
Plant Spacing: Chamomile plants should be spaced 6 inches (15 cm) apart.
Preferred pH Range: Chamomile will grow in a relatively wide pH range between 5.6 (acidic) and 7.5 (neutral).
Propagation: From seed. Direct sow in spring or fall. Fall sown seeds germinate following spring. Seeds need light to germinate.
Seed Germination Period: 7 to 14 days.
Soil Requirements: Well drained, poor to average soil.
Sun & Lighting Requirements: Chamomile grown outdoors prefers full sun but will tolerate some shade.
Special Notes: Chamomile self-sows freely; remove flowers (deadhead) if you do not want volunteer seedlings the following season.