German Chamomile Seeds

Matricaria chamomilla (syn. M. recutita) is a robust Hardy Annual (H5). It completes its entire life cycle within a single summer season. It is distinct from Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), which is a perennial ground-cover; German Chamomile is the superior choice for harvesting due to its higher essential oil content and sweeter flavour profile.

The "Apple" Scent: The etymology of "Chamomile" derives from the Greek khamaimelon, meaning "ground apple." This refers to the characteristic fruity, apple-like aroma released when the foliage or flowers are crushed or brushed against.

The "Physician of the Garden": Chamomile has earned a reputation in horticultural history for improving the health of nearby plants. Biologically, it is a high-value pollinator plant that attracts hoverflies—essential predators whose larvae devour aphids—effectively acting as a natural pest-management system for the organic vegetable garden.

Chamomile seeds are exceptionally tiny—almost dust-like—and require careful handling to ensure successful establishment.

How to Sow:
Direct sow outdoors in September for early blooms the following year, or in March to May for a mid-summer harvest. Scatter the tiny seeds onto the surface of finely raked, moist soil. Do not bury them; Chamomile seeds require light to trigger germination. Press them gently into the earth to ensure good soil contact. Germination typically occurs within 10-14 days.

Where to Plant:
They demand full sun and thrive in poor, sandy, or well-drained soil. They are remarkably drought-tolerant once established but cannot tolerate heavy, waterlogged clay. Their self-seeding nature makes them perfect for filling cracks in paving or establishing a permanent "pollinator strip" at the front of a vegetable bed.

Ongoing Care:
For the highest quality tea, harvest the flower heads when they are fully open—identifiable when the white petals begin to point downwards. Regular harvesting encourages the plant to continue producing fresh blooms. If you wish to ensure a crop for the following year, allow a few plants to go to seed in late summer; they will naturalise and return faithfully every spring.

Chamomile is a legendary companion plant, offering both practical pest deterrence and biological health benefits to these available partners from our range:

• 🥬 Brassicas (Kale & Cabbage): The Pest Confuser. The strong apple-and-honey aroma of Chamomile is believed to mask the scent of brassicas, helping to confuse Cabbage White butterflies and reduce caterpillar infestation. Its daisy flowers also attract beneficial hoverflies whose larvae prey on aphids.
• 🥒 Cucurbits (Cucumber & Courgette): The Health Booster. Traditional lore suggests that Chamomile improves the vigour of cucumbers and courgettes while helping to deter powdery mildew. The flowers provide essential nectar for pollinators required for heavy fruit set in your cucurbit patch.

Direct sow in spring or autumn for a summer-long harvest of fresh apple-scented blooms for the teapot and the bees.