GrowSabzHow to grow chamomile in pots
Also called German Chamomile, Wild Chamomile, Scented Mayweed, baboonah · Matricaria chamomilla
بابونہ
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.3 Levery 3 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 15–24°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L15 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 60–90days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 0.1 kgper 20 L pot
Chamomile keeps producing once it starts. First picking comes around day 60, and the plant then crops for roughly 90 more days — but only if you keep picking. Letting it run to flower is what ends the supply.
Short answer
Grow chamomile in a 5 litre container at least 15 cm deep, watering about 500 ml per 10 litres of soil every 3 days, and keep temperatures between 15 and 24 °C. First harvest comes 60–90 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does chamomile need?
5 litres and 15 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 5 L | 15 cm | Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. |
| Grow bag | 5 L | 15 cm | Fabric bags provide excellent aeration. |
| Open ground | — | 20 cm | Prefers well-draining soil; avoid heavy clay. |
| Raised bed | 10 L | 25 cm | Allows for custom soil mix and good drainage. |
Watering
How often should you water chamomile?
Every 3 days through the growing season, at about 500 ml per 10 litres of soil — every 2 days in hot weather, every 5 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Bottom watering or gentle surface watering works best.
Too little water
- wilting leaves
- stunted growth
- fewer flowers
Too much water
- yellowing leaves
- root rot
- stunted growth
Avoid: overhead watering; soggy soil.
Climate
Can you grow chamomile where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 15 – 24 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | -5 – 32 °C |
| Germinates above | 13 °C — best at 20 °C, about 10 days |
| Flowers drop | above 30 °C, or below 10 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–10 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 32 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for chamomile? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Chamomile growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for chamomile
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why chamomile fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 5 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Chamomile wants about 500 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 30 °C, or below 10 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Harvesting too late
Left too long the colour changes, seeds harden and the flavour sharpens. Pick on the signs listed below, not on the calendar.
- Planting it beside Fennel
Fennel is known to release substances that can inhibit the growth of many nearby plants, including chamomile.
Companions
What to plant with chamomile
Good neighbours
Chamomile is known as a 'plant doctor' and can improve the growth and flavor of nearby brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale).
Helps deter common pests like aphids and thrips from chamomile and other nearby plants.
Chamomile is believed to improve the health, vigor, and fragrance of roses when planted nearby.
Can enhance the growth and vigor of chamomile, though mint should be contained due to its invasive nature.
Some gardeners report improved growth and yield for potatoes when chamomile is planted nearby.
Keep apart from
Fennel is known to release substances that can inhibit the growth of many nearby plants, including chamomile.
Some anecdotal evidence suggests chamomile can stunt the growth of carrots, possibly due to competition or allelopathic effects.
Similar to carrots, some gardeners report that chamomile may inhibit the growth of celery.
Chamomile is a small, delicate plant and can be easily overshadowed and outcompeted for light and nutrients by large, aggressive growers like sunflowers or corn.
Chamomile prefers slightly alkaline to neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.5). Plants requiring very acidic soil (e.g., blueberries, rhododendrons) would not be good companions due to conflicting soil needs.
Problems
Chamomile pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted growth. Can be washed off with water.
Powdery Mildew humidity 50-70% · temp 20-27
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves. Can be managed by improving air circulation and avoiding overhead watering.
Root Rot humidity >80% (soil) · temp any
Caused by overwatering or poorly draining soil. Symptoms include yellowing leaves, wilting, and stunted growth. Roots become soft and brown.
Thrips humidity <60% · temp >20
Tiny, slender insects that feed on flower petals, causing discoloration, distortion, and sometimes a silvery sheen. Can reduce flower quality.
Damping Off humidity >80% · temp <18
Seedlings suddenly collapse at the soil line and die. Caused by soil-borne fungi in overly wet or cold conditions. Ensure good drainage and air circulation.
Slugs Snails humidity >70% · temp 10-20
Can chew irregular holes in young leaves, especially during damp conditions. Look for silvery slime trails as evidence.
Harvest
When to harvest chamomile
First picking falls between day 60 and day 90, and the plant then keeps producing for about 90 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Flowers fully open with white petals flat or slightly reflexed
- Yellow central disc is prominent
How much to expect
Storing it: Dry flowers thoroughly in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area (e.g., on a screen or in a dehydrator). Store dried flowers in an airtight container away from direct light.
Questions
Chamomile: common questions
How long does chamomile take to grow?
About 60 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 60 and day 90. It then keeps producing for roughly 90 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does chamomile need?
At least 5 litres and 15 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 10 litres of soil and 25 cm of depth.
How often should I water chamomile?
About 500 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 3 days in normal weather — every 2 days when it is hot and every 5 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does chamomile need?
It does best between 15 °C and 24 °C and survives from -5 °C to 32 °C. Seed needs soil above 13 °C to germinate, ideally around 20 °C.
Can I grow chamomile in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about -5 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when chamomile is ready to harvest?
Flowers fully open with white petals flat or slightly reflexed; Yellow central disc is prominent. Once picked: dry flowers thoroughly in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area (e.g., on a screen or in a dehydrator). store dried flowers in an airtight container away from direct light.
How much does one chamomile plant produce?
Roughly 0.1 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 0.2 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.