How to Grow Perfect Chamomile From Seed (And Use In The Kitchen)

Chamomile, or chamomilay if you're a true Epic Gardener, has become one of our favorites to plant once and harvest forever. Kevin and Ana show you how to grow it AND turn it into a chamomile simple syrup.
IN THIS VIDEO
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[@AnnikaVictoria24]

I too call it "shamamolay" thanks to you, and annoy everyone in my life 😂

[@adyscript]

So I’m in our kitchen listening, and I’m like, “what in the world is he talking about? Chamomo-wha??” Oh, he’s doing that again 😂

[@marmaladesunrise]

😂😂😂🫣!!! It's actually kind of cute!!!

[@epicgardening]

;0

[@adyscript]

@@epicgardening you always keep things entertaining 😊 as well as informative. Thank you ❤️ I’m kinda sad i can’t really do a garden this year, so I’m living vicariously through you and others who are killing it!

[@bethb8276]

I knew when I saw the subject he was going to say it that way at least once. 😂

[@gwackamoley]

Today i was out in the garden and saw a chamomile (growing in the path around my garden beds.), proceeded to say it as kevin does, and giggled with a smirk in my face. 😂 ya gotta keep it fun! Thank you for chamomilay!

[@stevebenjaminsmusic]

Using the blueberry harvester is genius - it takes sooo long to harvest one-by-one!

[@NicolaiAAA]

I 100% started watching this video just because I knew you were going to pronounce it like that and it makes me laugh so much. 🤣

[@paullee5017]

Me too 😆

[@stac1savage]

The super booper… 😆 You can trim them back using micro booping actions…. 😆 Love the random bits of humor sprinkled throughout. Thanks for keepin it fun 💚🌱

[@888_Lea]

I love the direction this channel is going with these herb n healing flower videos!

[@wikedkhaleesi]

I sowed my german chamomile from Botanical Interests on my birthday in January and I have soooo many plants this year. It's my favorite tea plant ever!!

[@epicgardening]

Love to hear it!

[@EarthLordGardening]

I make a shamanolay tea for my girlfriend, she loves it because it really helps control her anxiety. She started using it with the children she watches to calm them down after bouncing off the walls time is over. I also grind it and put it with other herbs that calm anxiety n make capsules.

[@porororo2023]

M Night Chamomelay? Timothee Chamomelay?

[@melstark3466]

I love mixing chamomile with peppermint leaf for a wonder iced tea in the summertime

[@unclebubbaknowseverything9143]

Speaking of mispronounced plants... My Dad and I were at a garden center and were on different isles looking for a couple of fruit trees.. He hollered over at me that the "Papa-Ya trees are half off!!" My brain kinda short circuited as I walked over to see this new variety of fruit tree I'd never heard of... The sign read Papaya. And I laughed and laughed... 🤪😜😁

[@epicgardening]

I say it that way too!

[@lanetower3411]

I remember when quinoa first became popular. No one could pronounce it.

[@bethb8276]

😂😂😂

[@cremebrulee4759]

​@@epicgardeningWhy? You should know the correct pronunciation of plants since you sell them. It matters.

[@hettar7]

I am really enjoying having different guests on this channel. Maybe i'll try chamomile next year.

[@catiepower3550]

My grandma used to make chamomile tea. She called it baby tea. It’s a staple in my house still. Planting it again this year.

[@shellyhughes7270]

I haven’t planted chamomile in 3 years, but it is all over my garden every year. I just go around the garden and dig up the clumps and put them in a planter where I want them. I still have a mason jar with dried chamomile for tea from last summer. I love the little blueberry scooper, it makes harvesting so much faster and easier.

[@vincients569]

Sowed chamomile 3 years ago. I've never had to sow it again always at least 30+ volunteers every spring and the pollinators adore it. It does seem to attract flies (pollinators as well but more prone to coming in my house 💀) a lot more than any other flowers that end up iny herb bed.

[@lorianderson2008]

SO HAPPY to see more of Ana. Just can't get enough.

[@PNW_ana]

This comment made my day!!! ❤

[@Serai3]

In Spanish, it's called _manzanilla,_ "little apple", because it smells like apples. :)

[@MyPeacefulGarden]

I sowed it a few days ago and its growing crazy already! I actually thought it was hard to grow. Last year i tried and it never came up. Im so happy mine is going nuts!! I did put a dome on it. I love chamomile tea! I have a dry basket that hangs outside. I got it on amazon. Loved this. She is amazing!!

[@blissrose01]

What did you do differently this year? New seeds?

[@MyPeacefulGarden]

Yes I got a pack of 4 different types on Amazon. Before I used burpee and never any luck.

[@sonyahogan5673]

Just harvested a quart of flowers this morning! Shamomalay Syrup for the win!!!

[@TDAEON]

I so hope you put that on the label. Those that know, will know. 😊

[@Chet_Thornbushel]

I love how cold hardy it is. We have a 4x3 area of our garden dedicated mostly to chamomile and there are always a couple plants that will overwinter, even here in zone 5! Those plants get a head start on blooming while the seeds start germinating. I often dig up some of the volunteers and pot them nicely to gift them to people 😊

[@Zay_562]

Yay shamomalay!!!

[@TDAEON]

Lol your comment had a translate to English option. 😂

[@Zay_562]

@@TDAEON 😂

[@erukaseven]

Eric at it again.

[@saracrum1487]

Chamomile tea during anxiety attack is GOAT 🎉

[@lelurve]

Randomly saw this video and your comment. Let me try that tonight as I have been having anxiety this past couple days

[@doodlesthegoose7085]

I need more chamomile in my life! This is awesome as I'm working on homemade soda recipes! It's also great to use it when making cannabis tinctures along with lemon balm, honey and decarbed bud. I call it my sweet dreams tincture. (Don't judge. I suffer from a very ugly insomnia issue).

[@JustMichiganDave]

I remember an ex-girlfriend left some packets of chamomile tea in a cabinet and I forgot about it, a while later I noticed something odd, it had started to sprout out of the box. Apparently it isn't a difficult thing to grow.

[@davidthedeaf]

Wow. It had seeds in it? Usually it is picked prior to seed formation, or so I thought. So did you plant the sprouts?

[@DebRoo11]

Never let a girl who grows chamomile go 😅

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

I never had this much luck with it. I had to buy actual seeds, and when they sprouted, they grew slowly and died in the summer heat despite being in partial shade.

[@TDAEON]

Now that's funny 😁

[@bradical2723]

A bit too moist in your cupboards aye? 😂

[@jordanwhitecar1982]

Started my chamomile seeds back in january under grow light...i sprinkled 10-20 seeds per cell in a 72 cell tray...in years past i never got a single seed to germinate...i got nearly 100 germination this year...thinned it to 2 plants per cell. Ended up planting 12 cells to a resin "barrel" pot...it's now overgrowing my garden... 😊 still no flowers yet though 🙃

[@ifeelikedyeing360]

Hell ya! Ana's syrup bit was a headbanger!

[@mumstheword8]

Love Anna! Great addition to the channel!

[@Penny526]

Will try the syrup idea 💡 nice 🌼🌼

[@joannmcculley8253]

Finally got Botanical Interests German Chamomile to grow this year...my 3rd year tying. I have like 20 clumps and am soooo excited. Last year I just bought a plant and got SOOO many flowers and definitely much stronger flavor and smell compared to store bought. Cant wait till these flower

[@Plantandpeoplecarer]

Proud to be a chamarmolay Epic Gardener 🎉🎉🎉

[@gendeb9666]

😂😂😂 👍

[@Plantandpeoplecarer]

@Tele.gram.Me..EpicGardening02 go away with your fake profile, stop using Epic Gardening photos 🤬🤬🤬

[@amyosborn4604]

I live in zone 5B, southwest Michigan, across the lake from Chicago. I discovered that my chamomile thrives when I crush several flower heads that were left on the plant too long, doing this at some point later in the summer (August or September). Tiny baby plants emerge in the fall, and then by the next spring, my bed is filled with wonderfully strong plants in spite of our harsh winters. Right now (2 weeks before last frost date), my plants are already 6” tall, and they’ve easily survived several frosts this past week.

[@mikki_s1100]

Perfect timing, I saw the first buds on my chamomile this morning! 😊

[@DarthK1tteh]

Yesss!! My mom drinks chamomile tea every other night so this year for mothers day, I planted a whole pack of German chamomile seeds in a seedling tray. Now to figure out where in the yard to transplant them so she won't have to buy chamomile tea again! :)

[@CarnivorousGuy]

Using that blueberry harvester at the beggining is so genuis! I dont think I would be using it much though, as the first time i grew it i had gotten like 8 flowers 😂😅 (I dont have blueberry plants either, i accidentally neglected my last one 😂😅). But this video will certainly help! Thanks!

[@epicgardening]

Hahah takes some time. Next season!

[@CarnivorousGuy]

@@epicgardening Yes! 🤣🤣. I will try again after your very good video! That chamomile syrup stuff looked tasty!

[@heatherfisk9670]

So far lemongrass simple syrup is my favorite (so good in cocktails or in lemonade) but I'll definitely give this one a try. Thanks!

[@Echosierrah]

I am really loving the kitchen-witchy content from Ana. Im going to make all kinds of flower syrups!

[@user-vl5bj6of2s]

Love chamomile ❤❤

[@zaria5785]

This was cool to watch. I had picked up chamomile pills and am giving them a try. I don’t know how it will affect my nervous system but typically drinking chamomile tea gives me the most restful sleep.

[@katherineallen4239]

The main reason I clicked is because I knew you would pronounce it in the best possible way! 😂

[@InkMink]

I love chamomile I'd love to make the syrup it sounds nice for tea as well ironically 😂

[@m.pearce3273]

Camomille honey is even easier 🎉

[@psmith2508]

I just made a homemade syrup with it then mixed with sparkling water for a homemade soda. It’s super tasty.

[@RT3Creations-Learn]

Another solid video! Thanks again for your efforts!

[@BelindaAmaro]

Oh my,🙃I never knew all this info wow🤗 I just love these Videos 🤩Thank you😊

[@RealBradMiller]

Sowed itself last summer here in Ohio, made it through our winter, and is in flower as we speak!! Gonna spread it even more, along with the calendula popping up in my beds!!! 😮

[@debbybrady1246]

I'm growing it for the first time this year, in a big tub. It's sprouting already and I'm excited to make tea.

[@bonnieharris5916]

This was great

[@anyaaiello8762]

I think it's good Ana's part is shorter than previous videos. Don't get me wrong, I love her recipes! it just works better for a gardening channel imo. I come to Epic to hang out with Kevin in the garden

[@Youngstomata]

Agreed. I stop watching once Kevin isn’t in the video. He needs to make a separate channel for his extra random people segments

[@anyaaiello8762]

@@Youngstomata I’m ok w new ppl as long as it’s short and sweet. They just don’t really have the same playful/entertaining vibe as him. Jacques kinda does tho so it sorta works

[@greentree211]

I really love Ana!

[@Youngstomata]

Is your favorite ice cream vanilla and do you enjoy paint drying too?😅

[@greentree211]

@@Youngstomata wow, you are a douche.

[@MimiMoonstone]

I was just about to look up the other chamomile video that is on this channel. Y’all reading my mind today! I bought seeds years ago and never tried to grow them, this is the year I grow my own tea.

[@shill4]

I planted it in winter sown jugs back in February. Transplanting into the garden this week.

[@jackiehorsley9263]

looks great

[@kosycat1]

Chamomile was one of my fist sucsesful crops. Direct sowed a whole 4x8 bed of it. and I still have some dried like 8 years later! Was making tea out of it but a few years ago dedicated the rest to putting in baths with lavender. I never came back though and I've tried scattering some seeds out here and there but its been very dry/hot here in Maryland In the summers and haven't had much luck with it since

[@IDpeaceBOA46]

1:02 just a medical history nerd here, you can’t trust anything pliney the elder ever said, he also thought you could tie a chicken to a Plague boil to get rid of plague 🤷‍♀️ super excited about chamomile though, it’s been one of my favorite teas forever and now I’m growing it for myself ❤

[@cruzitahinostroza4742]

As a Mexican, my grandmother used this as a tea for menstrual cramps. I planted some, but then we had a heavy rainfall and haven't seen it sprout since. 😢

[@jeas4980]

My husband just launched into ruckus laughter at "sho mama ley"... I didn't realize he was listening.

[@MrsB197something]

Shaman plants is what i call them. Thanks for yet another great video

[@PlantObsessed]

Whoa. Super booper for blueberries and shamolala. Also where was that epic cell cover. Ps love the Anna series.🎉🎉

[@karenschwartz5209]

Wonderful 😊

[@HappySativas]

We just planted German chamomile yesterday 💚

[@zeldaprincess4441]

I love these videos on how to use flowers and herbs in the garden!!! I think the packet of chamomile I had was too old because only one came up. I’m going to get a new one to try this recipe and maybe make a lavender one too.

[@gumdropgardens]

Ohhh I think they'll be fun to mix with linaria and lobelia in my old compost corner!

[@thepipingbagbakery4399]

Does Anna have a channel? Btw, I love how diverse and knowledgeable the team is.

[@PNW_ana]

Not yet!!!

[@thepipingbagbakery4399]

@@PNW_ana ahhh, that means soon! Looking forward to seeing you on this platform!

[@emeraldcat7511]

Aussie gardener and herbalist-in-training here! Chamomile is one of my most *favourite* plants. It’s incredibly versatile and pretty much grows almost anywhere. I found some growing in between my garden pavers one year. Haha

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

I have the seeds and need to start them now!

[@bobbysauer7826]

The Stoned eyes make me Lol everytime :P remind me of kevin (eric) from back in his cali green days as a hydro farmer

[@Your_name774]

Thanks❤

[@Dr_V]

It's also worth knowing is that chamomile "tea" (water infusion) has mildly anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and sedative effects (hence its long historical use as a medicinal plant). Drinking the tea can help (a bit, yet not enough to replace actual medication when that's deemed necessary) with sleep disorders, anxiety, various types of chronic inflammatory pain (like rheumatism) and some GI tract disorders. Chamomile extracts can also be applied topically (on contact) for sunburn, various ear, nose and throat sores, red eye and even to clean superficial wounds in a pinch (it's not as good as a medical antiseptic, but definitely better than nothing). Concentrated infusion is also widely used as mouth wash for people with dental problems.

[@PepperplacewithShawna]

Thank you.

[@brandon8900]

7:37 caught ya saying it normally 😂

[@Pharm2be]

Chamomile gets me every time. I’m gonna start saying it that way

[@kathleenpalmer845]

SHA MOM O LAY FOREVER !!!! 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@nodripsman]

Have some started direct sow and inside starts..wait and see! First time

[@luludebruyn]

Aaaaand now I'm growing Chamomile 🙄thanks for that kevin

[@oberynmartell11]

You can use chamomile to flavour baked goods too! Very subtle sweet grassy/floral/almost vanilla flavour. I guess you could grind up ground flowers and add them, when I made a chamomile cake I literally just dumped the contents of 2 teabags into my cake mix😅

[@avalon78]

Manzanilla! ❤

[@mariannel6560]

Ah, the infamous SHAMAMULAY! Love your sense of humor😁😆 @epicgardening

[@SpicyOtter9000]

chamamole Kevin is my favorite Kevin

[@brianaschoner3476]

Micro-booping. Super scientific methodology. I love it :)

[@KristinKanan]

Micro Booper is going on my resume. 😂

[@TDAEON]

This stuff grows and self sows like a weed. Still finding new babies from a potted chamomile from a year plus ago. Same with snap peas, which is fun.

[@naomisee789]

OKAY, OKAY . . . She-mom-olay it is!!! 😂😂😂🥰😘 (💙'cause I wanna be Epic 💚)

[@cindyannefontenot]

Ohhh my gosh!! We literally just finished watching the Stargate movie and Ra was mentioned in it…then I open my phone to KZbin and this episode pops up!! Say what!!😂

[@ttvgifted3171]

It grows everywhere where i live lol besides funnily enough i moved bout 25 minutes away and its no where i moved up in the mountains but in the towns. Its in my gf back yard covering. Our town’s have big backyard’s and sometimes 2. Live in the valley.

[@X360DevNerd]

You can get Hair Saloon spray bottles and they let out a fine mist for a couple bucks online. they work so good for starting seeds its a very fine mist.. Also been using the little plastic cups for the Keurig coffee cups for all my seed starting, saved me so much on little trays

[@ideasyhuertacasera7081]

Thanks for sharing the syrup. I will try dandelion 🤓

[@BigboiiTone]

In Alaska we have something we call "wild chamomolæ" and it looks very much like your roman variety but it grows at least a foot taller and has quite wide flowers. Very nice when dried with yarrow and steeped in heated water

[@Boterhammetpindakaas]

Thanks for all the info! I tried direct sowing last year, but I guess most of the seeds were flushed away in a rain shower. I will try growing them from a tray this year. Or just transplant them from any side of the road, it a very common plant here in the Netherlands.

[@tonykatieherres9991]

Chamamahleh, super booper. I friggin love you lmao❤❤

[@D4ni3773]

😂 Great video!

[@terrivance8750]

Kevin, Hmmm...my elderberry is budded up & should open soon. Might try making elderberry flower syrup. 🤔 Thank you. 😊

[@PNW_ana]

Elder flower syrup is magic!!!

[@samartinez1988]

I grew a pack of botanical interests chamomile and it's growing seven plants strong this year lol.

[@nancyk8153]

Please make a passion fruit plant care video

[@rachelgreengfgarden5467]

Love the video, instructions for growing, and use idea. When do you wash the herb - before drying? Before use? Interesting simple syrup idea, but I’d prefer to have seen her use it for tea first. I’d like to know how to do that.

[@PNW_ana]

You can give your plants a quick rinse before drying. To make tea all you need to do is dry out the flowers. I use 3 tbsp or so of dried flower per 6oz - that is pretty strong, so play around with amounts.

[@rachelgreengfgarden5467]

@@PNW_ana Thanks for the info! And if you're making the tea during the growing season, do you get similar results using the fresh flowers?

[@PNW_ana]

@@rachelgreengfgarden5467 You could - but you'd need a lot more of the fresh vs the dry. The benefit of using dry flowers is that you can steep more vs the fresh - but either way works!!

[@rachelgreengfgarden5467]

Thanks 🙏

[@Gene4er]

Would it do well in a meadow lawn type planting?

[@seekerjordan680]

The revenge of Eric: "Chamomalay. That is all." Gardeners everywhere: **GASPS OF SHOCK AND RAGE** 😱 😂

[@muichirotokito4221]

is epic gardening ever planning on shipping outside of the USA?

[@KR-os6nn]

The German family that I used to nanny for gave their baby chamomile tea, apparently it’s common to help with digestion.

[@rocksolidwealth]

I need to know where you got your telescoping grow light!!

[@theclassicrockperson]

I absolutely love these herb videos! I just need to get used to the “epic” way of saying chamomile!