Chamomile Seeds 4g

German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is a graceful annual herb prized for its tiny, daisy-like flower heads with bright white petals around a domed golden centre. The blooms release a sweet, apple-like aroma that has made chamomile a classic for calming herbal tea, while the feathery foliage and airy 30–75 cm stems make it a charming ornamental for borders and pollinator beds.

Planting

Surface-sow the seeds: press them gently onto the soil and do not cover them, as chamomile needs light to germinate. They sprout best under warm, alternating temperatures of around 20°C at night and 30°C by day, emerging in roughly 10–14 days. Choose well-drained soil — clay or loam both work, and it even tolerates poor ground — in full sun (6+ hours), though it accepts partial shade. Space plants about 20 cm apart in rows around 45 cm apart. In Egypt, sow in autumn (from late September) as a winter crop for a spring harvest.

Fertilizing

Chamomile is a low feeder that needs little fertilizer. Where soil is poor, work a balanced N-P-K 20-20-20 into the bed before sowing or transplanting, at roughly 90 kg per hectare. Avoid over-feeding, which pushes leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

Care

Being shallow-rooted, keep the upper soil moist but never waterlogged. Thin direct-seeded clusters to 2–3 plants every 20 cm, or transplant indoor seedlings once they reach 2.5–5 cm with 3–4 true leaves. Watch for aphids, plus powdery mildew, downy mildew and rust. Snip flower heads at full bloom; regular harvesting prolongs flowering.