Guide to Planting Chamomile Seeds: 3 Easy Methods

Planting chamomile seeds is easy, and can be done with minimal equipment. I know it can be super overwhelming in the beginning to find out how to grow specific herbs, what they need, and then there is the huge learning curve of starting from seed added on top.

Well, I am here today to walk you through this process and answer some of the most asked questions about planting chamomile seeds.

I have been growing chamomile in my garden for 5 years now, and I just love those little daisy-like flowers and the relaxing aroma. Chamomile is also a great plant for attracting beneficial insects. I have had lady bugs, and green lacewings in my chamomile patch before which is amazing for the garden. If that is not top of the list for companion plants then I don’t know what is.

Chamomile was one of the first herbs I grew specifically for herbal tea. Even in that first year, I was able to get multiple harvests of fresh flowers. Honestly, it doesn’t even compare to the chamomile tea you buy in the store.

That first cup of chamomile tea that I grew myself was just amazing. The smell, flavour, and calming properties are just so much more intense when it is home grown. I was even able to have enough dried flowers to store for later use over the winter.

Chamomile is also great at re-seeding itself, so now my little chamomile patch just takes care of itself and comes back year after year. I actually do not even need to start it from seed anymore, except for selling plants at my local farmers market.

Is chamomile easy to grow from seed?

The good news is that chamomile is actually super easy to grow from seed, and there are multiple ways to do it. You really do not need to provide much care as they just seem to grow happily with minimal supervision. That is my kind of herb because most of us are working with limited time, so you really don’t want to be dealing with a lot of super fussy plants.

There are different types of chamomile seeds to grow, and each one can be started using the same methods and with the same level of ease. The main thing is that you are starting with good quality herb seeds that have been stored properly and are not too old.

If you have all of that, and follow the steps outlined below, then it should be smooth sailing for you.

When to Start chamomile seeds

You could potentially be planting chamomile seeds any time of year, especially if you are growing chamomile indoors. However, most people will plant their chamomile seeds about 6 weeks before planting out in the garden. This will ensure you have nicely developed, healthy plants.

Chamomile grows pretty fast, so you do not want to start it too early, or you risk them becoming root bound. To combat this you will end up spending more money on potting soil and larger pots as you pot them up. If you are like me, one of the biggest benefits of starting herbs from seed is the cost savings. So, you want to avoid potting up if possible.

Also, seedlings do best with being transplanted as young plants. One of my favourite garden teachers “Charles Dowding” says that when transplanting young seedlings, it is almost as though they do not even know they have been moved, and they can just keep on growing. Very true.

Do Chamomile Seeds Need Light to Germinate?

In my experience, and contrary to what a lot of people say… chamomile seeds do not need light to germinate. I have experimented with this in the past and the results have been very similar. I started chamomile seeds with a clear plastic cover under grow lights, and at the same time I started one with a piece of black garbage bag over it. The seeds in both containers germinated the same day and at about the same rate.

Germination is only where the seed comes out of dormancy and starts forming its tap root. Light is not needed for that part. You will need light once the chamomile starts developing into a sprout and has its first baby leaves.

I think this could be why people say “chamomile seeds need light to germinate” – they actually don’t for the germination part, but then if you miss the part where the first little leaves come out, it could set your chamomile back.

The chamomile that had the clear plastic covering seemed just slightly ahead in the beginning, but now they have both caught up and you wouldn’t even be able to tell. See for yourself – can you tell the difference?

The clear plastic did not help them germinate, but it did ensure they had bright light as soon as those first leaves emerged, whereas the black plastic covered ones had to wait for me to realize they germinated and then get them under light – so there was a slight delay.

how deep to plant the seeds

When you look at chamomile seeds up close and personal, you will find they are super tiny. As a general rule of thumb you want to sow seeds about twice their width in depth. Seeds only contain a certain amount of energy from the time they germinate to be able to reach the soil surface. So for this reason – with chamomile being so tiny – you will get the best results when you surface sow them.

This simply means that you will take a pinch of seed like you would a pinch of salt in cooking and sprinkle them on the surface of the soil in a single layer (roughly).

This method of sprinkling many chamomile seeds on the surface of the soil is also called “over-seeding” and is perfect for chamomile. You can easily and gently pull the plants apart as they grow to have little clumps of chamomile. They are very happy to grow in a clump so you do not need to try and pick out one seed at a time (that would make your eyes buggy for sure).

3 Different ways to Grow Chamomile Seeds:

There are three main ways of planting chamomile seeds. These include: starting seeds indoors, direct sowing outside, and winter sowing (which chamomile is a good candidate for). There will be some overlap here so feel free to skip to the section that most interests you.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each one.

1. Starting Chamomile Seeds Indoors

Timing:

• Start any time of year if only growing chamomile indoors
• Start about six weeks before your last frost if transplanting outside

Equipment:

• seed starting medium
• container
• seeds
• spray bottle
• Plastic wrap
• Optional: vermiculite

Steps:

1. Pre-moisten your soil by adding soil and water to a large plastic bin or bucket. Work with a shovel or your hands and slowly keep adding water until it holds together in a ball and feels like a damp sponge when pressed. Do not add so much water that it is dripping out a lot when a ball of soil is squeezed
2. Add moist soil to your container
3. Gently press down on the soil as you fill the container – continue to gently press down on the surface to smooth out
4. Take a small pinch of seeds and sprinkle along the surface of the soil
5. Optional: take a very small bit of soil or vermiculite and sprinkle over top – it is ok if you still see the seeds
6. Mist the soil and seeds with a spray bottle so that the soil settles in around the seeds
7. Cover the container with plastic wrap and wait until they sprout
8. In about three days you should see sprouts – remove the plastic wrap, and put plants under a grow light
9. Water as needed, and watch your little chamomile seedlings grow
10. If transplanting outside – remember to harden off seedlings first, and then plant in an area that gets direct sunlight
11. Bonus tip: the best time to plant little seedlings outside is on an overcast day, or if you are expecting a period of light showers – avoid planting just before or during a heat wave

2. Planting chamomile seeds outside

Timing:

• Direct sow in spring or early summer to enjoy flowers in the same season
• Plant in fall (a month or so before your first frost) to enjoy the next growing season
  • chamomile plants will grow into little seedlings and overwinter, then in early spring they will take off and flower – this is what happens naturally when chamomile grows

Equipment:

• seeds
• fine head watering can or “mist” function on garden hose

Steps:

1. Choose an area that will get full sun, and avoid poor soil
2. Gently rake or smooth out the surface of the soil, and pat down
3. Water the area and wait a moment to let the water be absorbed by the soil – you may need to do this a few times if the soil is especially dry
4. Sprinkle seeds lightly over the prepared area
5. Gently sprinkle some fine soil overtop
6. Add a plant label into the ground so you remember where you planted your seeds
7. Mist the area very well so the soil settles in around the seeds (do not water with too strong of a stream or the seeds may become dislodged and float away)
8. If rain is not expected then check on your seeds at least once per day and water again if the soil surface is drying out
9. Bonus tip: try to avoid planting chamomile seeds outdoors during dry spells, or contrary to that, if you are going to be getting very heavy rain
   • It is best if you can plant your seeds when light rain showers are expected especially in hotter climates, that way mother nature will care for the seeds for you
10. Seeds will generally take a little longer to sprout this way and it very much depends on the weather
11. Continue to water and watch your chamomile patch grow

3. Winter sowing

Timing:

• one or two months before your last frost date

Equipment:

• potting soil
• seeds
• A recycled plastic container (apple cider jug, vinegar jug, milk jug, water jug)
  • You will need to prepare your container first – click here for a short ‘how to’ video I found
• spray bottle

Steps:

1. Pre-moisten your soil in the same way as planting chamomile seeds indoors (outlined above)
2. Add pre-moistened soil to your container
3. Gently press down on the soil as you fill the container – continue to gently press down on the surface to smooth out
4. Take a small pinch of seeds and sprinkle along the surface of the soil
5. Add a very small bit of soil over the top – it is ok if you still see the seeds
6. Mist the soil and seeds with a spray bottle so that the soil settles in around the seeds
7. Close the top of your container and tape in place – this creates a greenhouse effect
8. Leave your container outside in a warm spot where it will get some rain or snow
9. Check on your seeds if it is particularly dry and water lightly if needed
10. Seeds will take a much longer time to sprout in this way, but you don’t need to spend anything on grow lights or fancy equipment, plus it saves space in the house
11. As the weather warms up for the season remove the top of the container and then plant out in the garden
    • seedlings will be partially hardened off already, as they are used to growing outside
12. It can be up to 21 days until you see sprouts so be patient
13. Bonus tip – this method works best with cold hardy herbs (cilantro, chamomile, yarrow, parsley, etc.). It will not work well for basil as it cannot handle any frost or cold temperatures

How often to water chamomile seeds?

Watering is hard to judge as a beginner gardener. We are so excited and want to care for our seeds the best we can and… we end up over doing it. Most people actually over water vs. under water.

Overwatering can lead to fungus gnat issues, and damping off. Two things that you do not want to be dealing with – trust me.

When starting chamomile seeds indoors, I generally do not water them at all during germination. Once germination has happened I check on them every day.

They do not need much water in the beginning since their root systems are so small. I will use a mister for the first while and mist as the soil surface dries out. As the plants get bigger you can increase the amount of water they get. I like bottom watering them so you ensure they have all the water they need and your roots will be encouraged grow deeper.

If you are growing chamomile seeds outdoors, you are more at the whims of nature. The sun and wind can dry the surface of the soil quite quickly in which case you may end up watering each day during germination and the very early stages of growth.

Alternatively, you might get a lot of rain and not need to water at all. Once the plants are larger and the roots are more established you can ease up on watering and just provide the same amount as you normally would for herb gardens. Read more on how often to water your herbs here.

why are my chamomile seeds not growing?

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.

Although seeds do not expire, their germination rates will diminish over time. If your seeds are not germinating at all, you may want to look at how old your seeds are and think about buying some new ones. Another thing to note here is that you should store your seeds properly. If they have been exposed to very high humidity or temperatures in the past that would be an issue as well.

All seeds prefer to germinate in well-drained soil that is light and fluffy in texture. You want it to hold moisture like a damp sponge, but also allow plenty of room for oxygen. If your soil is too heavy, your seeds will struggle.

Getting the right environmental conditions and keeping those conditions consistent is crucial. If do not provide the optimal temperature, or the moisture levels are off, you may not have successful germination.

Lastly, you may have planted your seeds too deep in the soil. As mentioned above, seeds only have a certain amount of energy to reach the light at the soil surface before they run out.

Well, that is all for now. I hope this was helpful to you and that you feel inspired to go out and start your chamomile seeds. You’ve got this!

Also, don’t forget to pin this for later reference.

Until next time!