Chamomile [Matricaria chamomilla]

Chamomile is a very old annual and historical herbaceous medicinal plant from Southern and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The ancient Egyptians worshiped this plant and Charlemagne even made the cultivation of the real chamomile compulsory. In the wild, the weeds can be found mainly in nutrient-rich fields, wild meadows and fallow land. The plants develop pinnate-cut leaves and form white flowers that are reminiscent of daisies. The bright blue essential oil obtained from the flowers has a wide range of medicinal properties and is used for stomach and intestinal problems as well as for inflammation. With the antibacterial flowers, good seed dressing can be produced, which promotes germination and reduces the risk of pest infestation in plants. The entire plant is edible. Chamomile is an indicator plant for loamy soils, multiplies by self-sowing and under ideal conditions blooms reliably every year in the same location.

General information
Plant family: Asteraceae
Life Cycle: One year
Days to harvest: 100 days
Plant height approx.: 50 cm
Root Type: Deep Root
Nutrient requirements: Weak Eaters
Water Requirements: Means
Winter hardiness: Up to 0 °C
Location: Sunny
Floor: Permeable, humus-rich loamy soil

PH: 5.5 to 8

Sowing and planting information
Germ Type: Light germ
Seed Depth: 0 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 16-25 °C
Germination time: 7-14 days
Planting, row spacing: 15x20 cm

Optimal mixed culture: Kohlrabi, head cabbage, leek (leek), celery, onion
Unfavorable mixed culture:-

Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
From February to June, sow directly in the open air or prefer in small pots.

Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Sow directly outdoors from mid-May or prefer in small pots from April.

General
Sow directly in rows, as a litter or pre-cultivate. In the pre-culture, sow the seeds in small pots and let the seedlings grow to the first visible chamomile leaves. Then plant the pre-grown plants from the pots directly into the open ground. The planting of the seedlings in the bed is carried out from the 2nd Pair of leaves after the cotyledders.
Chamomile prefers a sunny and warm location with permeable, loamy and humus-rich soil.

Additional tips
Bucket culture possible. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and well-drained soil, an additional incorporation of biochar and primeval rock flour is recommended.

Type of propagation
Spread occurs via seeds.

Care Plants
Avoid dehydration. Fertilization was only necessary for bucket culture.

Germination ability of seeds: 2-3 years

Other Names
Botanical names: Matricaria chamomilla
English Names: Chamomile
German names: Real Chamomile
Portuguese names: Camomila
Spanish Names: Manzanilla
French names: Camomille