Chamomile is the friendliest herb to start from seed: the daisy-like flowers make calming tea, the plants self-seed cheerfully once established, and a single packet can fill a bed. The seeds are dust-fine, though, and the seedlings are small enough to lose in a tray — indoor sowing gives them the gentle start they need.
Because the seed is so tiny, sowing indoors lets you control moisture and keep the seeds exactly where you put them instead of washing away in the first rain. This guide covers the surface-sowing method chamomile needs, the timing that gets plants flowering in their first summer, and how to move them outside without disturbing their fine roots. Chamomile can be started indoors or direct-sown — its sowing method is listed as "both" — and indoor sowing is the better choice if you want an earlier start, more even germination, or plants ready for the first warm weeks of the season. This crop is in the Asteraceae family, needs full sun, and takes 60–90 days to reach maturity, so the timing below is built around those facts, not guesswork.
Chamomile at a glance
| Growing factor | What chamomile need |
|---|---|
| Days to germination | 7–14 |
| Sowing method | both |
| Days to maturity | 60–90 |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.0 |
| Spacing | 6–12 inches |
| Sun | full sun |
| Cold tolerance | hardy |
When to start chamomile seeds indoors
In Zones 3–5, start indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost so plants are sturdy by planting-out time. In Zones 6–8, 4–6 weeks is enough, and in Zones 9–10 you can sow indoors in late winter or direct-sow once the soil warms. In frost-free Zones 11–13, sow in the cooler months — chamomile dislikes hot weather and flowers best before summer heat arrives. Check your local extension service for your last-frost date, or use our frost-date calculator and seed-starting calculator.
As a rule, work backwards from your last frost: sow indoors 6–8 weeks before it if you are starting indoors at all, and check the seed packet against the germination time of 7–14 days. Our seed-starting calculator does the backwards maths for you, and the germination-time calculator helps you plan around that 7–14-day window. If you are unsure of your zone, the hardiness-zone finder will confirm it.
What you need
a shallow seed tray or small pots, fine seed-starting mix, a spray bottle or mister, a clear lid or cling film, a grow light or bright windowsill, and labels. Because the seed is so fine, mix it with a pinch of dry sand before sowing if you find it hard to scatter evenly — it helps you see where the seed has landed.
You will also want a spray bottle or a watering can with a fine rose, and a notebook to record the sowing date — germination takes 7–14 days, and it is easy to forget when you sowed.
Step by step: starting chamomile seeds indoors
- Fill your containers. Fill trays or pots with fresh, damp seed-starting mix — not garden soil, which is too heavy and can carry disease. Press it down lightly and level the surface.
- Sow the seed. Chamomile seed needs light to germinate, so scatter it thinly on the surface of damp seed-starting mix and press it down gently with the flat of your hand — do not cover it with mix. Mist the surface, cover the tray with a clear lid, and keep it in bright light. Germination takes 7–14 days. Thin ruthlessly once seedlings have two true leaves; crowded chamomile stays small and never flowers well.
- Cover and label. Cover the tray with a clear lid or cling film to hold humidity, and label it with the crop and the date. Put it somewhere warm and bright, out of direct sun until seeds sprout.
- Wait for germination. Germination takes 7–14 days. Check the tray daily, mist the surface if it dries, and be patient — uneven germination is normal, especially for slow crops. Our germination-time calculator helps you track the window.
- Remove the cover. As soon as seedlings emerge, take the lid off. Good airflow from this point on is what prevents damping off.
- Give them light. Move the tray under a grow light or to your brightest window immediately — seedlings stretch within a day or two if the light is weak.
- Thin and pot on. Thin to one seedling per cell once they have two true leaves, snipping the extras rather than pulling them. Pot on into larger pots when roots show at the drainage holes, keeping the seedlings at the same depth.
- Feed lightly. Once seedlings have two sets of true leaves, feed with a half-strength liquid feed every week or two. Do not overfeed — soft, overfed seedlings are more likely to damp off and less likely to harden well.
Light for seedlings
Chamomile seedlings want bright light from day one: 14–16 hours under a grow light, or the sunniest windowsill in the house. Without enough light they stretch, flop and die. Keep the light close — 2–4 inches above the leaves — and raise it as the plants grow. If you only have a window, turn the tray daily so the stems do not lean.
Watering seedlings
Chamomile has moderate water needs. Keep the mix evenly moist while seeds are germinating, using a mister rather than a watering can so the tiny seeds are not washed around. Once seedlings are up, water from below and let the surface dry slightly between waterings. Soggy mix invites damping off, which is the main killer of chamomile seedlings. Our watering calculator can help you work out how much water your seedlings need as they grow.
Hardening off
Harden seedlings off over a week: a few hours of sheltered outdoor time on day one, building up to full days in sun and breeze. Chamomile is hardy, so a light chill will not hurt it, but do not leave young plants out overnight until they have had several days of outdoor exposure.
Transplanting outdoors
Plant out after the last frost, or a little before it in mild areas — chamomile is hardy and tolerates a light frost once hardened. Space plants 6–12 inches apart in full sun. Our plant-spacing calculator works out the layout. Water the seedlings in well, then water only when the top inch of soil dries. Expect flowers in 60–90 days from sowing. For the full picture — soil, feeding, pests and harvest — see our complete growing chamomile guide.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Seeds never sprout | Chamomile seed buried under mix will not germinate — it needs light. Sow on the surface and mist gently. Old seed also fails fast; check it with our seed-viability checker. |
| Leggy seedlings | Too little light. Move the light closer and give 14–16 hours a day. Thin crowded seedlings so the survivors get light and air. |
| Damping off | Seedlings collapse at the base. The mix was too wet or the lid stayed on too long. Remove the cover once seeds sprout, water from below, and use fresh mix. |
| Aphids on young plants | Chamomile attracts aphids. Blast them off with a strong jet of water or pick them off by hand — avoid sprays on a herb you plan to drink as tea. |
Seeds never sprout
Chamomile seed buried under mix will not germinate — it needs light. Sow on the surface and mist gently. Old seed also fails fast; check it with our seed-viability checker.
Leggy seedlings
Too little light. Move the light closer and give 14–16 hours a day. Thin crowded seedlings so the survivors get light and air.
Damping off
Seedlings collapse at the base. The mix was too wet or the lid stayed on too long. Remove the cover once seeds sprout, water from below, and use fresh mix.
Good companions for chamomile include tomatoes, peppers, marigolds, cabbage. Watch out for aphids, slugs, thrips — check young plants regularly, and deal with pests early while plants are small. Our pest-identifier helper can help you work out what you are looking at.
Frequently asked questions
How long do chamomile seeds take to germinate?
7–14 days in bright light on a damp surface. Keep the tray covered until they sprout, then remove the lid for airflow.
Do I need to cover chamomile seeds with soil?
No — they need light to germinate. Press them onto the surface and leave them uncovered.
Can I direct sow chamomile instead?
Yes, chamomile can be direct-sown once the soil warms, but indoor sowing gives more reliable germination and earlier flowers. Scatter seed thinly and keep the bed damp until it sprouts.
How far apart should chamomile plants be?
6–12 inches apart. They bush out quickly once they are in the ground, so give them room to spread.
When will my chamomile flower?
About 60–90 days from sowing. Pick the flowers when the white petals are flat and open, and more will follow.