Started April 1

Size: 2 feet high by 2 feet wide, sprawling

Location: full sun

Matures in: 30 - 60 days

Native: German

Why did I Choose it? Valuable for the garden, pollinators and as an herb. 

Uses? The dried flowers and leaves can be used in tea, and in soothing oils and creams, as well as our soaps. The flowers can be dried for winter flower arrangements. 

Specifics: Naturally antibacterial and antifungal it helps prevent infections in nearby plants and fruit trees.

It is especially beneficial to brassicas, onions, beans and cucumbers.

It increases the oil production in basil rosemary and mint making them more potent.

It also attracts pollinators, such as honey bees, and beneficial insects such as hoverflies, beneficial wasps and ladybugs that eat aphids and other pests. It is known to deter mosquitos.

Chamomile tea sprayed on seedlings can help to prevent damping off, a common fungal infection.

It's also a natural insecticide for unwanted bugs like aphids but it won't harm our bees.

It makes an excellent fertilizer that can be used in much the same way as comfrey because of its high mineral content.

The large amount of greenery also makes a fantastic mulch or addition to the compost pile. 

Companion Plants: Zinnias, petunias, snapdragons and verbena all benefit from its antifungal abilities. 

Roses, lilacs, ninebark and dogwood can all benefit from chamomile being planted near them, as well as any fruit trees or bushes you might have. 

Blight prone potatoes and tomatoes also benefit. 

Flavour and growth can be improved in cabbages, onions, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, beans, cucumbers, broccoli and kohlrabi. It also improves certain herbs like mint and basil. 

Avoid: ?

Personal Notes: Hawthorn’s germination rates say 77% and I’d say that was pretty accurate. I had chamomile in several places in the garden. The more sun it got and the more space it had the better it did. It apparently self seeds even though it's an annual so we’ll see what we get this year. 

Next up Marigolds