Wish you could have a pop of color in your garden that was also useful? Grow chamomile and enjoy fresh homegrown chamomile tea!
Why Should You Consider Adding Chamomile To Your Garden?
Adding chamomile to your garden will add a beautiful yellow color as well as allowing you to make a relaxing tea. Chamomile also attracts pollinators to your garden, which are needed for pollination. My preference is to plant things that are edible in my garden. For me, chamomile fits my garden goals!
Growing my own tea has been something I’ve wanted to try for a long time. I’ve experimented with mint in the past, but am looking to grow chamomile. I can’t wait to pair my chamomile with some flowers from my edible flower series.
Continue reading to learn how to grow and harvest chamomile.
How To Grow Chamomile
First, you will want to choose your favorite chamomile to grow, I prefer Baker Creek Seeds for chamomile.
Quick Chamomile Tips:
- Plant in partial shade
- Doesn’t take much effort
- Be careful with fertilizer, too much can cause weak flavor and less flowers
- Drought tolerant (perfect for zone 5b, am I right?)
- Consider planting marigolds, chives or garlic near chamomile to deter pests like aphids
After Adding Chamomile To Your Garden, You’ll Need To Harvest Chamomile
When harvest time comes, pick chamomile flowers carefully. You’ll want to lightly pinch below the flower and pull the flower off the stem. Another key point is to only pick the flowers that are open in full bloom.
After harvesting, you need to dry the flowers. With this in mind, we have 2 options. The first option is to use a dehydrator on the lowest setting. Alternatively, you can lay the flowers on cheesecloth and place in a cool dark place for about 2 weeks.
Store your dried flowers in a glass jar, and use within 6 months for best flavor! Add flowers to salads, desserts or make a relaxing tea. You can certainly use the flowers after 6 months, but the flavor will begin to fade.
Generally speaking chamomile is pretty easy to grow and harvest. Let me know in the comments below if you will add chamomile to your garden this year!
Check Out All The Posts In This Series:
- Grow Your Own Tea Series Announcement
- Complete Your Garden By Adding Chamomile
- Reward Yourself By Growing Beautiful Butterfly Pea Flower
- Grow Mint For A Guaranteed Fresh Cup Of Tea
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