You can start sowing chamomile seeds as early as spring. If you want to get a jump on things, consider starting them in pots or trays indoors and then transplanting them later. Otherwise, you can wait a bit and sow the seeds directly where they'll grow. Another option is to plant them in late summer when they naturally mature and self-seed; being hardy annuals, these little plants usually make it through winter, giving you a head start come spring.

While many sites say chamomile seeds germinate best in cool soils, I’ve had no trouble getting them to sprout in mid-summer. That said, the plants seem to bolt when sown in warmer weather.

These tiny seeds need light to germinate, so just sprinkle them on the surface and lightly press them into the soil—don’t cover them up! Keep the seeds watered and moist until they germinate, which typically takes about 1 to 2 weeks.

The young seedlings grow slowly and have shallow roots that can easily come out with weeds. So, if you’re dealing with a weedy area, starting them in pots or trays with weed-free compost can make life easier, especially since they don’t like having their roots disturbed. For the best results, use plug trays for transplanting. They tend to grow bushy, so you can space them about 30cm apart, but they can also thrive when planted closer together.

Chamomile loves full sunlight and does best in sandy soils, though it’s adaptable to most soil types. Once it’s established, you won’t have to do much to care for it. It's drought-tolerant and, so far, I haven’t encountered any pest problems with it. If you get those seeds in early, you should start seeing a lot of flowers by the end of June.