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Chamomile is a classic herb prized for its apple-like fragrance, soothing tea, and potential health benefits. With its charming daisy-like blooms, it also adds beauty to gardens and floral arrangements.
If you want to grow your own chamomile, you likely want to know – how long does it take for chamomile seeds to germinate? This complete guide provides tips for fast successful germination of these delightful flowers.
Overview of Chamomile Varieties
There are two main chamomile types:
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German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) – An annual herb also known as Hungarian or wild chamomile. Grows 18-24 inches tall.
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Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) – A perennial groundcover chamomile. Grows 6-12 inches tall.
Both produce charming white daisy blooms with yellow centers. German chamomile flowers have a hollow cone shape, while Roman chamomile flowers are flatter.
Chamomile is easy to grow from seeds or transplants. Seeds allow you to grow many plants cheaply Plus, chamomile often self-sows, providing free plants every year
What’s the Germination Timeline?
Chamomile seeds are tiny like dust. Here’s what to expect:
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Days 1-7 – Keep seeds moist. Seeds swell as they absorb water.
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Days 7-14 – First seedlings emerge! See tiny green sprouts.
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Days 14-21 – Seedlings grow first true leaves. Thin seedlings when 1 inch tall.
So in general, chamomile seeds germinate in 1-2 weeks if conditions are right.
Moisture, temperature, light, and soil factors influence the timeline. Let’s look at ideal conditions for fast germination.
Key Factors that Impact Germination Rate
Moisture
Chamomile seeds need consistent moisture to sprout. Water lightly every 1-2 days to keep soil moist but not saturated.
Temperature
Aim for 60-70°F. Seeds can handle 45°F but germinate slower.
Light
Chamomile requires light to germinate. Sow on soil surface without covering.
Soil
Use a light, well-draining seed starting or potting mix. Avoid heavy or dense soils.
Planting Method
Direct sowing results in faster germination than starting indoors and transplanting.
Follow these ideal conditions, and your chamomile seeds should germinate in the expected 1-2 week timeframe. Now let’s look at useful tips for success.
Tips for Fast, Successful Germination
Here are some useful tips for getting chamomile seeds to sprout quickly:
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Direct sow seeds in the garden after the last frost. Avoid transplant shock.
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Plant in full sun. Chamomile thrives in 6+ hours of direct sunlight.
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Prepare a smooth seedbed without debris for good seed-to-soil contact.
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Water early in the day to allow soil surface to dry before nighttime.
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Use a mister to provide gentle moisture for seedlings. Avoid flooding.
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Cover seeded containers with plastic to retain moisture. Remove once sprouted.
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Use bottom heat of 65-70°F to keep seeds warm indoors.
Follow these tips, and you can expect rapid germination in 1-2 weeks or less. Now let’s look at what to do if you encounter issues.
Troubleshooting Germination Problems
Sometimes chamomile seeds fail to sprout. Try these troubleshooting tips:
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Check seeds didn’t get washed away or dry out. Reseed if needed.
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Gently scratch the soil surface to improve seed-to-soil contact.
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Move pots to a warmer area around 70°F.
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Add bottom heat if indoor temperatures are cool.
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Ensure seeded containers get ample sunlight.
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Try soaking seeds in room temperature water for 24 hours before planting.
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Scout for fungal issues like damping off and treat if found.
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Purchase fresh seeds from a reputable source and retest viability.
With some troubleshooting and TLC, you can get reluctant chamomile seeds to germinate. Just stay patient!
With proper care, chamomile seeds can quickly germinate in just 1-2 weeks. Provide warm temperatures, ample sunlight, and consistent moisture. Direct sowing delivers faster results than starting indoors. Follow these tips for a thriving patch of charming, fragrant chamomile blooms.
How to Harvest Chamomile Flowers
Chamomile, like other herbs, is a cut-and-come-again plant, meaning you can harvest continuously throughout the flowering season. Most plants should begin blooming within about 10 weeks from being planted.
The optimal time to harvest chamomile flowers is once the bud has opened and the petals begin arching backward. Once the flower has dried and gone to seed, it’s a little late, though you could still pull off some petals and use them to make a tea (you might sacrifice a bit of flavor).
The best time of day to harvest is in the morning.
When youre ready to harvest the blooms from chamomile, go to the base of the stem and cut with clean pruners. Those stems are not going to grow new blooms, so its best to take the bloom with its entire stem.
Leave the plant to continue to flower and form more delicious blooms for you to enjoy later.
Harvesting regularly tells your plant to keep producing blooms. If youre expecting a frost, do a final chamomile harvest and cut the remaining blooms.
Bring your flower heads inside to wash carefully and dry.
Keep blooms indoors in water, or pluck the flower head from the stem for use in the kitchen. You can compost the rest.
Where to Grow Chamomile
Chamomile can grow in raised beds, containers, and even in-ground pollinator gardens, though it tends to get extra floppy growing in soil thats too heavy in clay and light on nutrients.
I love to plant chamomile on the edges of a raised bed so that the flowers can drape over the sides and produce blooms for me as long as possible.
Its best to plant chamomile in full sun for maximum blooms, though it can tolerate partial shade. If you live in a hotter climate, find a spot for your chamomile herb where it will get some afternoon shade to keep the blooms from drooping.
How to Grow Chamomile From Seed (And Make Your Own Tea)
FAQ
Why are my chamomile seeds not germinating?
There are a number of reasons that you may be struggling with starting your chamomile seeds. These could include the age of your seed, the growing medium you have chosen, the environmental conditions may be off, or you may have planted your seeds too deep.
What should you not plant next to chamomile?
| Spices and Herbs | Bad Companion Plants |
|---|---|
| Chamomile | Potatoes and radish |
| Chervil | Radish |
| Chives | Beans and peas |
| Cumin | Peas and beans |
Can I just scatter chamomile seeds?
… sow chamomile seeds into small pots or trays of damp, peat-free seed compost – just scatter the seeds thinly on the surface as they need light to germinate
How many chamomile seeds per hole?
When sowing chamomile seeds, it’s recommended to plant 2-3 seeds per hole or cell if using seed trays or containers. This ensures you’ll have healthy seedlings, as not all seeds will germinate.