The cultivation of edible species at home gives us greater autonomy, in addition to the pleasure of being able to harvest what we sow. So, why not plant species that are great for infusion and provide us with delicious teas, some even with medicinal characteristics?

This is the case with Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), which through its flowers produces a great calming and digestive tea, helping to reduce anxiety and insomnia, in addition to softening the skin, used a lot for baby hygiene, or as a natural hair lightener.

In the case of use for colic, both in babies and menstruation, the properties of its flowers act as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic, calming the internal muscles and nerves.

Of European origin, Chamomile has been used since antiquity by the Greeks and Egyptians, and even today it is possible to find it in European public gardens and even in some regions of Asia, due to its spontaneous character and easy cultivation in these regions of temperate climate, as well as planted in gardens around many homes to symbolize prosperity.

More than very versatile in medicine and the cosmetics industry, Chamomile also has an ornamental feature with its delicate and small leaves and white flowers with yellow centers that resemble small daisies.

They are creeping plants, reaching a maximum of 50 cm in height, which cover large areas, reminiscent of beautiful countryside landscapes and exude a delicate and sweet perfume that ends up attracting many bees!

Sun, soil and irrigation

Full sun plant, that is, that needs at least 4 hours of direct strong sun in them for their health, they tolerate the wind and need more frequent watering, as they do not tolerate dry soil, this same soil which they are demanding in terms of water. fertility.

They have an annual cycle, so after a year, at most two, they need to be replanted using seeds and indirect sowing, and they are considered great plants to have as companions, favoring the growth of other plants nearby.

chamomile planting

For planting seeds, this can be done throughout the year, except in frosty areas, avoiding this time. Use a seedbed to germinate your seeds, leaving it in a shady place with high humidity in the substrate. Wait 7 to 14 days for them to germinate and replant them in a definitive place when they have at least 4 leaves.

It looks beautiful in garden beds, but can also be grown in pots. For this, prefer wider vases than deep vases, as their growth is lateral. Make a good draining layer with expanded clay or other material that provides good drainage such as stones or pieces of ceramics, cover it with the draining blanket and complement it with a substrate rich in organic matter, such as earthworm humus.

Plant the seedlings taken from the seedbed, spacing them 15 cm apart. When planting, make sure they are stable to ensure rooting, and water right away. Make sure the vase is in a place where it can sunbathe.

Harvest

When it blooms, pick the flowers with the stem when they are completely open and leave them to dry in a dry place in the shade. After drying, store them, without the stems, in a clean, dry and airtight container to use in infusion. Finally, a quick tip! Leave some flowers on the plant to complete the full cycle and generate seeds, so you can generate your own seeds and always have beautiful chamomile seedlings!

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