03.
Cultivation & Harvesting
considerations for growing and harvesting chamomile
climate
Chamomile often grows near roads, around landfills, and in cultivated fields as a weed in full sun or light shade.
soil
Chamomile will tolerate many soils, but prefers a sandy, well-drained soil.
growing
Start your chamomile seeds indoors for later transplant, about 6 weeks
before you are expecting the last frost of the winter. Plant out in the
garden spaced 12-18 inches apart after the last frost. You may also plant
your chamomile seeds directly into the garden; you can either sow your seeds
in the early spring or even put the seeds out in the fall to overwinter.
Though an annual that will only survive for one year, chamomile will readily
seed itself. That means you can have an ongoing patch of chamomile if you
let some of the blossoms go to seed rather than picking them all.
harvesting
Harvest chamomile flowers during the entire blooming season; pick only the
blossoms not the stems. Spread them out somewhere warm and well-ventilated
to thoroughly dry. Direct sunlight can harm the chamomile oils, so don’t
just leave them out in the sun to dry. Indoors is usually best.
preserving
Once dry, you can store chamomile flowers, whole or ground, in a sealed
container for a year. Store in a cool, dry place.
