Fresh chamomile tea is a real treat and it’s well worth growing your own…
• Scatter German Chamomile seed on the surface of a tray filled with damp, peat-free compost in March-May.
• Transplant the seedlings into the garden when large enough to handle and the risk of frost has passed. Water young plants in dry weather and remove and relocate slugs as necessary.
• Once established, the plants are fairly drought tolerant and don’t need much attention.
• Harvest the flower heads when they have a bright yellow centre, on a dry, sunny morning. Avoid picking any with green centres, or any leaves and stems, as these will make the tea bitter. Pour boiling water on the fresh flowers and leave to infuse for a few minutes, then strain.
• The chamomile plant will continue to produce flowers throughout the growing season, but once you stop picking the flowers, it will readily self-seed.
The growing instructions above were taken from our March issue’s ‘My Plot’ pages, which we’ve called ‘The Tea Garden’. The feature follows husband and wife team, Ceri and Ben Richards, who grow, dry and blend premium herbal teas on their wildlife-friendly farm in east Devon. They sell their brews under the name Gathered & Grown, and farm without using artificial herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers or peat. You can find them at gatheredandgrown.co.uk or follow them on Instagram at: @gatheredandgrownherbs. Words & photography by Ceri Richards Additional photography by Ben Richards.
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