Chamomile
Plant Variety: German Chamomile
Days to harvest: 60-90 days
Season: Early to midsummer
Sun Requirements: 6-8 hours of sunlight
Water Requirements: Around 1 inch of water per week for young plants, drought tolerant once established
Planting notes: While German Chamomile is an annual, it self seeds easily, so keep that in mind when choosing a location
Preservation: Fresh or dried for tea or medicinal use
Day 1: Planting seeds
Although german chamomile is an annual in our zone, it self-seeds easily. We threw a few seeds into a dirt patch a few years ago and we allow the chamomile to self-seed each year as much as it wants. We then supplement in the spring if there are empty patches.
The seeds can be direct sown outside in late spring. Sprouts emerge around day 10. We water the seeds and young plants frequently until they are well established (around day 25).
Day 60: Flowers bloom
Established plants are drought tolerant, so we water them 1-2 times per week, depending how much rain there is. Flowers will begin to emerge around day 60-70. With our self-seeded plants, we usually get our first harvest of chamomile flowers in early to mid May.
Day 60+: Harvesting
Harvest the flowers when they are fully open and the petals stick straight out from the stem. We harvest chamomile daily and try to get 60% of the flowers before the petals begin to droop. Leaving 40% of the flowers allows them to heavily self-seed for the next season.
To harvest, pinch the stem under the flower or use your fingers to pop the flowers off of the stem.
Preservation
Chamomile flowers can be used fresh or can be dried to preserve for later use. We dry the majority of our harvests in a drying rack for 4-7 days before storing in a glass jar.
We love to use chamomile for tea, but it also has wonderful medicinal benefits. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and can ease stomach cramps, nausea, indigestion, and anxiety.