German chamomile is an herb commonly used for garden and home herb gardening. This perennial flowering herb grows in thick clusters up to five feet tall and is yellow-green to purplish-white in color, with long, spiral-shaped seeds and a short, rounded stem. It’s very similar to other members of the chamomile family such as the lemon balm and the scented lavender. Chamomile has been known to reduce fevers and it has an uplifting, antiseptic effect on the respiratory system.
Chamomile should be started in spring, just before planting out in the garden. They don’t tend to produce fully grown flowers until late summer or fall. If you’re going to plant German chamomile seeds, you should put them in a potting mix that contains wood chips or wood dust, compost, perlite and vermiculite. This combination will provide all of the nutrients your plants need to grow in a healthy and abundant environment. You should make sure your pots are large enough to let the seeds have room to germinate, but not so large that they become crowded.
If you’re planting these German chamomile seeds indoors, you need to prepare the soil before you begin growing. Most experts recommend that you use sterile soil because it allows for better root development. You’ll also need a dark spot that gets indirect light, as much as possible, throughout the day.
It’s important that you don’t over water when you’re planting these herbs. They need moisture to germinate, but they also like their roots to stay damp. If you do go over-watering, you risk destroying the roots and causing the entire plant to die. Overwatering can also cause fungus problems, so be sure you follow the directions on the herb you’re growing. You may want to purchase a growing tray made specifically for this purpose.
In the beginning, after you get the chamomile seeds started, you will only be able to see small green shoots. They are called fuschia, and they look a lot like miniature mushrooms. As they grow larger, you will see them shoot out their branches and begin to fill the space between the leaves. You will need light in order to encourage these shoots to grow; therefore, you will place the German chamomile pot on a window box or on a sunny windowsill.
Once you have your herb German chamomile seeds germinate, you will want to use a piece of cardboard or another small container with a hole in the bottom for the seeds to be inserted. Place the seeds in the hole and cover them with some soil. Then, you will need to put some medium between the dirt and the seed so that they can have room to grow. This should be about an inch of soil.
The last step of growing your chamomile herb is the germination stage. This may take several weeks to months, depending on how fast your chamomile grows. Make sure that you water the chamomile thoroughly before it starts to germinate. When the seeds are ready, you can place them in a glass jar, cover with a plastic bag or a Tupperware lid, and let them sit in a dark place for about six weeks.
After this time frame, you can remove the seed packages and put the container into a hot pot full of water. Allow the herbs to sit for about one week. Then you can remove the bags or Tupperware containers and place them in your compost pile. During the summertime you will need to check the chamomile seeds to make sure they are germinating. If you need a continuous supply of green, aromatic herbs, then your best choice would be the German chamomile seeds.