The ultimate feel-good plant, chamomile ticks every box: easy to sow, floriferous, pretty along borders, and perfect for a bedtime tea. Whether you’re a first-timer or not, here’s the simple method to sow, grow, harvest, and dry your blooms — then turn them into infusions and gentle DIY care with zero stress.
How to Grow Chamomile in Your Garden?
Roman or German Chamomile: Which One to Pick?
- Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile): a low, perennial cushion with generous bloom. Perfect for edging and regular harvests of fragrant flower heads.
- German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla): a taller annual that grows fast and self-seeds easily. Ideal if you want lots of flowers in year one.
Quick choice: want long-lasting borders? → Roman. Want a big flush of blooms right away? → German.
A Gentle, Versatile Medicinal Plant
Known for its soothing and digestive virtues, chamomile fits beautifully into a night routine (calming tea, relaxing bath, cool eye compress). In the garden, it attracts pollinators and blends perfectly into wildflower strips.
How to Grow Chamomile Successfully
Ideal Growing Conditions
- Light: full sun to light partial shade
- Soil: light, well-drained, rather lean (avoid excess nitrogen). Neutral to slightly calcareous pH
- Watering: regular at sowing, then moderate; let the surface dry between waterings
- Sowing temps: 15–20 °C; germination in 7–14 days under stable conditions
Seedswild tip — In the app, switch on the Seed Cultivation module: get localized sowing dates, growth-stage tracking, and alerts (heat, wind, rain) to secure germination.
Step-by-Step Sowing (Pots or Open Ground)
- Prepare a fine seedbed: rake the top 1–2 cm.
- Broadcast sow the very fine seed and do not cover; simply firm the surface with your hand or a board.
- Mist gently until emergence; keep the substrate barely moist.
- Thin to 15–20 cm (German) or 25–30 cm (Roman) to prevent legginess.
- Low-stress care: light hoeing, a thin summer mulch, and no fertilizer needed.
Container culture: choose 20–25 cm depth; use peat-free potting mix plus 20% sand for drainage; empty the saucer after watering.
Harvesting and Drying Chamomile
When and How to Pick the Flowers
- Timing: mid-morning in dry weather, when flower heads are fully open.
- How: pinch off the capitulum between thumb and forefinger, or use a chamomile rake to save time.
- Frequency: pick regularly — the more you harvest, the more it reblooms.
Drying and Storage for Tea
- Air-dry: spread in a single layer on a rack/cloth, in shade with airflow, 5–10 days.
- Dehydrator: ≤ 40 °C to preserve aroma & actives.
- Store: airtight jars, away from light; best within 12 months.
Home traceability: label jars with date, variety, and harvest spot.
Natural Benefits of Chamomile
Soothing & Digestive Properties
Traditionally used to ease mild tension and support digestion, chamomile is a gentle staple for the evening routine and . It’s generally well-tolerated and fits a natural well-being approach.
Common-sense reminder — Herbal teas don’t replace medical advice. Avoid if you’re allergic to Asteraceae. Seek guidance if pregnant/breastfeeding.
Uses: Tea, Skin Care, or Relaxing Bath
- Tea: 1 tbsp dried flowers per 250 ml, steep 10 min, drink warm.
- Eye care: cooled tea compresses to de-puff after screen time.
- Bath: a gauze pouch of flowers in hot water for a wind-down ritual.
- Kitchen: chamomile syrup (mocktails), infused milk (custards, cakes).
Calm Night Tea Pack: Gentle Sleep, on Demand
The Ideal Selection for Drifting Off Naturally
Our “Calm Night” pack combines premium dried chamomile + a step-by-step infusion guide + an evening ritual checklist (4-7-8 breathing, soft lighting, digital switch-off). Your ally to unplug and build a soothing sleep routine.
Seedswild tip — In the app, turn on “tea time” + “screens off” reminders, and let the AI align your weather alerts (heat, wind) with the best harvest window.
Known for its soothing and digestive virtues, chamomile fits beautifully into a night routine (calming tea, relaxing bath, cool eye compress). In the garden, it attracts pollinators and blends perfectly into wildflower strips.
If you enjoy growing herbs for both beauty and wellness, you might also like our guide on Sage: From Garden to Remedy — Why Sage Deserves a Place in Every Home.
Take action — Sow chamomile today. Seedswild AI creates your localized calendar, sends seed alerts, and calculates your ideal harvest window. 💚
