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Chamomiles are cheery little plants. Sweetly scented like fresh apples, chamomile plants are used as ornamental flowerbed borders, planted in cottage and herb gardens, or grown as a pollinator friendly, low-maintenance lawn substitute. They are also used as a defense against pests and disease in the vegetable garden. Chamomile plants may range in height from 6 to 18 inches (15-46 cm.) with an equal spread, depending upon the type. All chamomile types produce an abundance of seed that will quickly self-sow wherever it lands in warm, loose soil. Continue reading to learn more about growing chamomile from seed.
Chamomile is a popular herb known for its calming and medicinal properties. With its pretty daisy-like flowers and apple-like scent, chamomile is a beloved addition to herb gardens flower beds and tea cups alike. But what do chamomile seeds look like? Read on for a guide to identifying chamomile seeds and seedlings.
An Overview of Chamomile
There are two main types of chamomile: German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). German chamomile is an annual herb that can grow up to 18 inches tall, while Roman chamomile is a perennial groundcover.
Both varieties produce charming white flowers with yellow centers The flowers each contain dozens of tiny seeds that allow the plant to self-sow and spread. Once the flowers fade, they leave behind distinctive dry, cone-shaped seed heads. Inside these seed heads are the diminutive chamomile seeds, waiting to be dispersed
What Do Chamomile Seeds Look Like?
Chamomile seeds are tiny, measuring just 1 to 2 mm long. They are oblong and angular in shape. When fresh, the seeds are light brown or tan in color. As they dry, the seeds become darker brown or even blackish.
The seeds are contained within hollow receptacles or cones in the center of the faded flowers. In German chamomile, this receptacle is shaped like a tiny cone or funnel. In Roman chamomile, the receptacle is flatter and more solid.
You can often hear the seeds rattling around inside these dry receptacles when the wind blows or the plant is disturbed. The receptacles help protect and disperse the hundreds of miniscule chamomile seeds produced by each flower head.
How to Harvest Chamomile Seeds
To collect chamomile seeds for future planting or propagation, wait until the flowers have faded completely. Look for dry, brown receptacles where the petals used to be. You can harvest the entire faded flower heads or break them apart to remove just the seed-filled receptacles.
Spread the seed heads or receptacles on a screen or newspaper in a single layer and allow to dry indoors for 1 to 2 weeks. Gently crush or rub the dry receptacles to separate the seeds. Store the seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Identifying Chamomile Seedlings
Chamomile seeds germinate readily in the right conditions. They can sprout in as little as 7-10 days. Here are some tips for identifying chamomile seedlings:
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Cotyledons (first seed leaves) are small and oblong, around 2-5 mm long. They may be slightly hairy.
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First true leaves are ferny and finely divided into narrow, blunt-tipped segments.
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Seedlings may be prone to damping off, so allow soil to dry out between waterings.
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Young plants resemble their mature form early on, with delicate, frilly foliage.
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Thin seedlings to 4-6 inches apart to allow them room to grow. Chamomile grows quickly, producing flowers that can be harvested just 6-8 weeks after sowing seeds.
Soon you’ll have a flourishing patch of chamomile from those tiny seeds!
Growing Chamomile from Seed
Growing chamomile from seed is an easy way to add this lovely herb to your garden. Here are some tips:
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Direct sow seeds outdoors in prepared soil after the last spring frost. Chamomile enjoys full sun but tolerates partial shade.
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Or start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening off.
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Scatter seeds over soil surface and gently tamp down. No need to cover chamomile seeds.
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Maintain even moisture for seedlings. Allow soil to dry between waterings as plants establish.
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Thin seedlings to 4-6 inches apart. Chamomile spreads readily via self-sowing.
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Harvest flowers for tea or other uses once blooms appear, usually 6-8 weeks after sowing.
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Allow some blooms to fully dry and self-sow for future chamomile patches.
With a little knowledge of what to look for, cultivating chamomile from seeds is an easy and rewarding endeavor. Soon you’ll have homegrown chamomile blossoms ready for harvest and seed heads to collect for future plantings of this multipurpose herb. Happy growing!
How to Grow Chamomile from Seed
There are two different species of plants commonly known as chamomile.
- Chamaemelum mobile, also commonly known as English, Russian, or Roman chamomile, is a low-growing perennial. It is considered to be the true chamomile and is used in landscapes as a flowering groundcover or lawn substitute. English chamomile is hardy in zones 4 through 11 and is cultivated all over the world for its herbal properties.
- German chamomile, or Matricaria recutita, is also cultivated as the herb chamomile, but it is considered the false chamomile. It is an annual that grows to 18 inches (46 cm.) tall and its consistent, miniature, daisy like flowers add charm to the container, herb, and cottage gardens.
Both types of chamomile plants produce small, white, composite flowers with bright yellow center discs. German chamomile produces a hollow conical disc from which its white petals arch down from. English chamomile’s disc is flatter and solid, the flower petals spread outward from the disc, like a ray. Upon each disc, or seed head, an abundance of chamomile seeds are produced, which germinate within seven to ten days when exposed to adequate soil, sunlight, and water. When seeds are left on the plant to mature and spread naturally, one chamomile plant can quickly turn into a lovely patch of chamomile.
Chamomile usually produces flowers that can be harvested for herbal use in just six to eight weeks. When harvesting chamomile flowers, most herb gardeners will leave some seed heads to naturally self-sow to produce a small colony of chamomile. You can also set aside some of the harvested blooms to dry for seed to plant in other areas. So, when to plant chamomile seeds in the garden? Chamomile seeds can be started indoors three to four weeks before the last frost. When planting chamomile seeds indoors, fill a seed tray with a well-draining potting mix, then simply scatter the seeds over the loose soil and lightly tamp it down or water it in with a light mist. Seedlings should be thinned 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm.) apart when they are about an inch (2.5 cm.) tall. Plants do not like to be transplanted once their roots have been established and they begin to produce blooms, so many gardeners prefer to sow the seeds directly in the garden. In the garden or as a lawn substitute, chamomile seeds need only be scattered over loose soil and gently tamped down. Germination can occur in temperatures as low as 45 to 55 degrees F. (7-13 C.) in full sun to part shade.
How to Grow Chamomile From Seed (And Make Your Own Tea)
FAQ
How long does chamomile take to grow from seed?
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Gardenaryhttps://www.gardenary.comHow to Grow Chamomile from Seed in an Organic Herb GardenNov 18, 2022 — How to Grow Chamomile Plants from Seed. Chamomile does really well from seed. Since this is a flowering herb and since plants take a while to reach …
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Mary’s Heirloom Seedshttps://www.marysheirloomseeds.comGrowing Chamomile from Seed to Harvest – Mary’s Heirloom SeedsJul 30, 2021 — Seeds should germinate in 7-14 days. … From seed to harvest, Chamomile can be ready in as few as 8 to 9 weeks. Chamomile can easily re-seed so if …