Chamomile
How do I sow camomile outdoors?
To sow camomile outdoors, choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Aerate and loosen the soil by spading it to a depth of a few centimetres. Avoid adding fertiliser as chamomile thrives in poor soil.
Chamomile is usually sown in spring (March-April) or autumn (September-October). Sow the seeds 20 cm apart, spacing them 1 cm apart. Cover the seeds lightly with soil and tamp gently. Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Make sure that weeds do not take over the young chamomile plants. Once the plants are well established, chamomile requires little maintenance. Harvest the flowers for infusions or to make dried bouquets. Chamomile is a perennial plant that will come back year after year.
When does camomile flower?
Chamomile generally flowers in spring and summer, between May and August. Flowering can last about 2 to 3 months. Chamomile flowers are small white flowers with bright yellow centres and give off a pleasant fragrance. To encourage camomile to flower, it is best to plant it in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It is important to ensure that the plant receives sufficient water, especially during hot spells. Chamomile is a hardy plant that doesn't need fertiliser, but organic mulch can help to keep the soil moist. Once the flowers start to fade, it's a good idea to prune them back to encourage new ones to appear. By following these simple tips, you can enjoy beautiful chamomile flowers in your garden without resorting to chemicals.
How do you harvest camomile?
Chamomile is an herbaceous plant that is easy to grow and maintain in a natural garden. The best time to harvest chamomile is in summer, when the flowers are in full bloom. To harvest camomile, simply cut the flowers with scissors just before they start to fade. It is important to harvest the flowers early in the morning, when the dew is still on the petals, to preserve the plant's medicinal properties.
Once harvested, chamomile can be dried by hanging upside down in a dry, airy place away from direct sunlight. Once dry, chamomile flowers can be stored in an airtight glass jar for about a year. It is best to store chamomile in a cool, dark place to preserve its freshness and health benefits.
Chamomile
- Type : Flowers
- Botanical Family : Asteraceae (composites)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Sensitive
- Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
- Adult Height : 40 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 1 cm
- Plant Spacing : 25 cm
- Row Spacing : 25 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Low
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing