German Chamomile

German Chamomile — variety description

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is an annual herb of the Daisy family (Asteraceae). German Chamomile Zloty Lan is one of the best varieties. An annual plant, upright with a strongly branched stem, 30-60 cm tall. The leaves are 2-5 cm long, twice pinnate with narrow thread-like lobes.

The flowers are gathered in flower heads on long stalks, located at the ends of the branches.

Chamomile flower heads contain essential oil. The flowers of the plant contain flavonoids, coumarins, sitosterol, choline, carotene, ascorbic acid, isovaleric and other organic acids, and polysaccharides.

Chamomile preparations have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, sedative and some analgesic effects, increase bile secretion, have a pronounced anti-ulcer effect, and stimulate tissue regeneration and healing.

Chamomile is the most popular medicinal herb for tea: it soothes, relieves inflammation and is a delicate ornament for the garden.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 92%
• Seeds per packet: 6120–8280 pcs (0.6 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: March – May and September – November; direct
• Flowering: May – July
• Harvest: May – July
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow German Chamomile

German Chamomile seeds are sown in March – May and September – November. The plants flower from May to July. The crop is harvested from May to July. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow German Chamomile

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: on the surface
• Spacing: 20 cm
• Germination: 7–14 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

If you sow medicinal chamomile seeds from March to May, the chamomile will flower as early as the end of June, and if you sow it from September to November, it will delight you with its flowers in June of the second year. Leave 20-30 plants per linear metre, and after overwintering 15-20. The highest chamomile yields are obtained on fertile soils. The distance between rows is 45-60 cm, and the sowing depth is no more than 0.5 cm. The seeds begin to germinate at 4-6°C, but the optimum temperature is 20-25°C. Under favourable conditions, 20-30 days after seedlings emerge, a rosette of leaves forms. The growing season is very short: from seed germination to flowering takes 50-70 days. Both winter and spring plants can develop. Before winter a rosette of leaves forms, and in this state the plants overwinter and flower in early June.

The seeds germinate in light: scatter them and just press them in. Sow in autumn or early spring.

Harvest and use

Pick the flower heads at full bloom and dry them in the shade.

Frequently asked questions

When should German Chamomile be sown?

The recommended months for sowing are March – May and September – November. Sowing method: direct.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 6120–8280 seeds, pack size 0.6 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 92%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

How do you dry chamomile?

Pick fully open flower heads in dry weather and spread them in a thin layer in a shaded, airy place.