Chamomile - a garden beauty with beneficial properties

Description of chamomile

Many people are familiar with a beautiful flower that grows in fields and meadows, which is sung in songs and poems. This is a pharmaceutical chamomile, which, in addition to its aesthetic appearance, also has medicinal properties. Many gardeners purchase its decorative analogue – garden chamomile – for their plots:

1. The correct botanical name of the cultivated plant is common cornflower. It comes from the word “niva”, that is, a wide field in which one can usually see a wild variety of plant.
2. Popularly, the garden chamomile flower is also called sunflower, belyushka, tyagun, whitehead, or squirrel-grass.
3. The plant belongs to the Asteraceae, or Asteraceae, family.
4. Nivyanik is a perennial herbaceous plant; however, annual forms are found, although rarely.
5. The plant is actively cultivated in Central and Southern Europe, temperate regions of Asia, North America and even Australia.
6. Nivenik is considered the official floral emblem of the Swedish province of Skåne.
7. The flower is characterized by active and rapid growth, a long flowering period from the end of June to the end of August, depending on the variety.
8. Garden chamomile is used as a cut flower to create beautiful bouquets and floral decorations.

What do daisies look like?

It was already mentioned above that the garden chamomile plant is very similar in appearance to its wild counterpart. However, according to scientists, these flowers are not close relatives from a scientific point of view. In the garden, everyone recognizes the decorative chamomile:

1. The height of the thin, erect stem of the plant varies between 15-60 cm; in some varieties the edges are clearly visible.
2. The basal leaves are located on long stalks and have a spatulate shape with jagged edges.
3. The stem leaves are sessile, bipinnate, and grow alternately. The edges have uneven serrations.
4. The flowers are large and can reach about 25-60 mm in diameter. Collected in inflorescences-baskets of flowers without reeds or reeds of white or yellow hue with a yellow center, located singly at the top of the stem.
5. The garden chamomile plant has a large number of petals, which can be arranged in one or two rows. There are also terry varieties.
6. Achenes are formed only on the marginal flowers.

Garden chamomile, planting and care

Garden chamomile is a modest beauty that can quite immodestly decorate any flower bed. This flower evokes a romantic mood. For novice gardeners, chamomile is a real godsend in terms of unpretentiousness. Since ancient times, this sunny flower has a beautiful legend of its origin. People believed that chamomile grows in the place of a fallen star.

Chamomile was originally a wild plant. It’s worth seeing a chamomile field once in your life, and you will definitely want to transfer at least part of such unforgettable beauty to your plot. Cultivated varieties of chamomile are no less beautiful. They bloom for quite a long time due to numerous shoots, which allows you to enjoy the beauty of this cute flower for a long time. Chamomile carries not only aesthetic value, but also practical value. Experienced flower growers know that garden chamomile can be successfully used in folk medicine, cosmetology and even cooking. Various infusions and decoctions are made from this flower, which have anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antiseptic effects. Chamomile also has a famous “whitening” property, so it is included in creams, tonics, face lotions, shampoos for blonde hair, etc. Young stems and shoots of chamomile can elegantly complement a summer salad or sauce. In this article we will try to cover the most important aspects of growing garden chamomile, the secrets of caring for this plant and much more.

What does a garden chamomile look like?

Chamomile has been known to man since ancient times. In Ancient Rome, this flower was associated with the Sun God, for which it received its second name - “solar flower”. It was believed that chamomile grew where the Sun God passed. In Polish, chamomile is also translated as “Roman flower.” Chamomile cannot be overlooked in the garden or confused with another plant. It has the following characteristic features:

• It belongs to the family of aster perennials.
• Can reach a height of 30-100 cm.
• Smooth petals are neatly arranged around the core.
• The flower can reach up to 15 cm in diameter.
• The leaves are smooth, bipinnate and beautiful green in color.
• It blooms all summer, from June to September.
• The flower is quite unpretentious and can grow both in sunny areas and in the shade.
• By autumn, the above-ground part of the plant dies, and in the spring it grows again.


Popular varieties of garden chamomile
Of course, breeders have made a huge contribution to the variety of garden chamomile varieties that we can now observe. Flowers differ in stem height, shape and arrangement of petals, duration of flowering, there are double and smooth varieties. The secret to a beautiful flower bed depends largely on which variety you choose. Therefore, it is simply necessary for a beginning gardener to know minimal information about the growth characteristics of a particular variety of garden chamomile.

North Star

This snow-white beauty can become a real decoration of any area. The stem can reach a height of 60-70 cm. It prefers the sunny side and easily tolerates drought. It can be planted as seedlings both in spring and autumn. But this chamomile will delight you with flowering only in the second year.


garden princess

This variety of garden chamomile has many advantages. It grows in a compact form due to the huge number of side shoots that reach 35 cm in length. Another advantage is that the Garden Princess can be sown directly into open ground. The flowering period will please any gardener - from the beginning of summer until the autumn frosts. Prefers areas protected from drafts with loose and airy soil.

Nivyanyk

The largest garden chamomile is Nivyanik. It is often grown for commercial purposes, e.g. for sale in bouquets. Powerful and strong stems reach 80 cm in height. The brightly defined yellow center is surrounded by beautiful snow-white petals. Propagated by dividing the bush, which is best done once every 3-4 years, or by seeds.

Silver Princess

This variety of garden chamomile can be successfully used in group plantings. The flowers, when fully opened, reach 10 cm in diameter, and the stem grows up to 30 cm. Snow-white smooth petals are arranged around the yellow center in one row, giving the flower a cute and simple look.

Grandiflora Alaska

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Large-flowered Alaska is a real giant among garden daisies. Can grow up to 90 cm in height! The advantages of this variety include its drought resistance, unpretentiousness and the possibility of planting closer to winter. Next year you will already admire the lush blooms. The buds bloom up to 10 cm in diameter.

Winner

Another variety of garden chamomile popular among gardeners is the Pobeditel variety. It, like Large-flowered Alaska, is one of the giants among daisies. Reaches a height of 50 cm to 90 cm. The flowers are slightly smaller in diameter - 8-12 cm. It blooms the next year after planting and grows for about 3-4 years.

How to grow chamomile in your own garden

If you have already become familiar with the varieties of garden chamomile and made a choice for yourself, then it’s time to study the technology and methods of growing it. Garden chamomile can be grown in several ways. It cannot be said that some of them are easier and some are more difficult. There are varieties that can be grown, for example, only by seedlings. And others can be sown with seeds directly into open ground. So, if you don’t want to bother with seedlings, then take this fact into account when choosing a variety. Regardless of which planting method you choose, adhere to the following site selection criteria:

• give preference to slightly acidic soils,
• Mostly all daisies love sunny places,
• before planting, any soil, even the most fertile in your opinion, should be fertilized,
• to reduce the acidity of the soil, you can use slaked soda or dolomite flour,
• take into account the size of the future adult plant, leave enough space between plants. This way, it will be easier for you to fight weeds and all parts of the flower will receive enough sunlight.

Method 1. Growing garden chamomile using seedlings
The method of growing chamomile through seedlings is not much different from growing with seeds. You will have to tinker a little with plastic cups or similar containers.

Method 2. Growing garden chamomile with seeds
Growing chamomile with seeds is a fairly simple method that is especially popular with beginning gardeners. However, not all varieties of garden chamomile can grow in this way by sowing directly into open ground. The features of this method are:

Method 3. Growing garden chamomile by dividing a bush
Dividing a bush is an equally popular way of growing chamomile on a plot. This procedure is best done in the spring. You need to dig up the bush as carefully as possible, without damaging a single shoot. It's better not to use sharp gardening tools, but to do most of the work with your bare hands. Depending on the size of the bush, it is divided into 2-3 parts. Holes for new bushes are dug in accordance with the size of the root system. The bottom of the planting hole is fertilized with mineral fertilizers and sprinkled with soil on top. A new chamomile bush definitely requires watering.

Secrets of caring for the “sunny flower”

So, you have successfully planted a beautiful chamomile on your site. Although this is an unpretentious flower, it still requires basic care to preserve the aesthetic appearance and health of the plant. What do you need to know about caring for the “sunny flower”?

• Like any garden plant, chamomile requires watering. It should be regular and quite abundant. On hot days, you need to especially carefully monitor the level of soil moisture. Some varieties of garden chamomile are drought-resistant, but the lower level of the soil should not dry out anyway.
• regular weeding. Removing weeds is necessary not only to make the flower bed look neat and well-groomed, but also for the health of the plant. After all, weeds can be carriers of various diseases and pests. In addition, the highly developed and powerful root system of some weeds can harm the chamomile bush,
• loosening the soil. It is necessary to loosen the soil for good access of moisture and air to the roots,
• bush rejuvenation. This simple procedure should be carried out after an average of 5 years of the bush’s life. On one side, the bush is trimmed, and fertile soil is poured into the resulting hole. After 3 years, repeat the procedure in the same way, only on the other side of the bush,
• most garden daisies love to sunbathe. Take this fact into account when planting a plant, avoid neighbors who will create a constant shadow on the flower,
• chamomile needs help preparing for winter. Before the onset of frost, you need to cut off the above-ground part of the plant. Young bushes need to be covered with fallen leaves, but adult plants tolerate frosts well,
• if you want to collect chamomile seeds, then this can be done. Wait until the flower is completely dry, cut it, and let it dry in a cool and dark room. After this, you need to carefully remove the seeds, sift them from possible debris, dry them and collect them in paper bags. These seed packets should be stored in a cool, ventilated and dark room.

Is it necessary to feed garden chamomile
? Of course, you can forget about feeding the flower and think that this is not such a necessity. But then don’t be surprised why the chamomile on your neighbor’s property looks richer and more spectacular compared to yours. Chamomile loves feeding and responds friendly to them:

• The very first fertilizing occurs in the process of preparing the soil before planting garden chamomile. Rich organic compounds are suitable for this purpose. After applying fertilizer, the root circle needs to be mulched,
• the second feeding is carried out in mid-spring with ammonium nitrate. It is better to water the soil before fertilizing to ensure good absorption of the fertilizer. You will need about 20 grams of fertilizer per 1 sq.m.
• During the period of bud setting, fertilizing with urea will not hurt. But only faded plants need it,
• in order to prevent excessive oxidation of the soil with mineral fertilizers, it is necessary to periodically use nitrogen-containing fertilizers. For example, mullein, bird droppings.

Possible pests and diseases of chamomile
Flower growers are always upset when their pets in the flowerbed are attacked by pests or diseases. Violation of planting technology, pest-infested soil, neglect of weeding or watering - all this can negatively affect the health of garden chamomile. What can you do to make the snow-white daisy beauty please you with its appearance? To do this, you need to comply with all care requirements, although they are small. In order not to miss a possible infection of a flower, you must definitely know the enemy by sight. Among the most common diseases of garden chamomile are:

• rust. Rust can be identified immediately if you notice a red spot on the upper side of a leaf. Fungal spores are found on the underside of the leaf.
• gray rot. This disease progresses many times faster with high humidity. Brown spots on parts of the chamomile become larger and larger, gradually becoming covered with gray fluff,
• powdery mildew. The disease can be recognized by the appearance of a white coating on the above-ground parts of the plant. Gradually, the affected parts of the chamomile become brown,
• Fusarium This fungal disease begins to affect the roots and root collar. They begin to rot, the plant loses its tone, turns brown, the stem becomes thinner and the plant dies.

The plant needs to be inspected regularly to avoid excess and stagnation of moisture in the soil. For prevention, you can use fungicides that are used to treat the aerial parts of chamomile. If most of the bush is already affected, then it is better to remove it to prevent infection of neighboring plants.

Among the pests that love to eat garden chamomile are the following:

• star-winged fly. This is exactly the same pest that can settle on chamomile if you neglect weeding. The larvae settle at the base of the flowers, gradually taking over the entire plant,
• aphids and thrips. These sucking pests are very dangerous because... literally draw all the vital juices of the plant. Whitish spots and stripes appear on the leaves, flowers become deformed, the plant gradually loses its tone and dies,
• wireworms. These are larvae that feed on the roots of garden chamomile. They live in the soil for up to 4 years.

Photo of garden chamomile in landscape design
We hope that this article will help you grow the real highlight of your garden - garden chamomile. A little patience, effort and, of course, love for nature, and your dream of seeing a piece of chamomile field on your property will definitely come true. Good luck in floriculture!

Chamomile varieties

Breeders around the world continue to work on developing new varieties of garden chamomile, the number of which already exceeds several hundred. The most popular of them, actively cultivated in the CIS countries, are:

1. Chamomile Alaska
   . A tall frost-resistant variety with a stem about 80-90 cm in height and large flowers with a diameter of about 12 cm. Flowering after autumn planting begins next summer.
2. North Star
   . This variety is considered the most unpretentious in care. The diameter of the white flowers is about 10-12 cm, while the height of the stem does not exceed 35-40 cm.
3. Silver Princess
   . Another low-growing variety, the stems of which do not exceed 30-35 cm in length. It is famous for its long flowering, starting in mid-summer and ending with the first frost.
4. Fiona Goghill
   . A variety with large terry pom-poms-flowers of bright yellow petals.
5. Broadway Lights
   is a variety characterized by medium stem height and yellowish petals along the perimeter of the entire chamomile.

Varieties of garden chamomile

In our country there are a huge number of species of this amazing flower. They differ in size, color, and flowering time. The most common and popular varieties of daisies among our gardeners are:

• cornflower;
• pyrethrum;
• doronicum;
• pharmaceutical chamomile;
• small petal.
  

  Important! Each species has its own distinct growing characteristics. Therefore, before choosing one or another variety, be sure to familiarize yourself with its characteristics.

Chamomile cornflower

This type of plant is popularly known as large garden chamomile (giant chamomile) or popovnik. There are more than twenty varieties of this species. The most popular of them:

• common cornflower;
• Kuril;
• the largest cornflower.

This plant differs from its relatives in the large size of its petals, which can be double, semi-double or single. The core is yellow.

Important! The peculiarities of planting and growing such chamomile on your own plot require adherence to the following recommendations:

• The flower prefers warmth and light.

• Unpretentious to the soil.

• Needs division every 3 years.

• Requires regular watering.

• Reacts favorably to timely feeding.

Chamomile feverfew

In another way it is also called Persian chamomile. The petals of this type of chamomile can be double or single. Their colors are red, pink and yellow. A distinctive feature of this type of chamomile is the height of the stem. It can reach from 50 cm to 1.5 meters. Pyrethrum is grown not only to decorate the site. This type of chamomile is also used to protect things from moths. The flower is dried and placed in a closet, where its smell repels pests.

Important! Features of care and planting of such chamomile are as follows:

• They develop better in sunny areas.

• Need nutritious, well-drained soil.

• Requires division every 4 years.

• Pairs perfectly with bluebells, oriental poppy, yarrow and cornflower.

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Chamomile doronicum

This species is considered one of the earliest flowering. The flowering period begins in early May and ends in June. The plants reach a height of 70 cm. The petals have a rich yellow color.

Important! Such daisies are absolutely undemanding to the soil and grow even in dark areas.

Pharmaceutical chamomile

This species is the most popular among our gardeners. It has a pleasant, pronounced apple aroma. It has amazing medicinal properties, due to which the flowers and stems of chamomile are used for the treatment and prevention of various diseases, as well as as a component in cosmetic decoctions, creams, and masks.

Although such a plant belongs to the category of 1-year-olds, it can be grown in one area for 2-3 years in a row.

Important! When growing such varieties, keep in mind that they require:

• Well lit space;

• Light and medium loamy soils;

• Well-moistened fertile soil.

Small petal chamomile

These daisies bloom late - from mid-June to September. Height – up to 1m. The range of shades is varied - the flowers are:

• lilac;
• white;
• pink;
• blue.

Important! They prefer loose soil and illuminated, sunny areas.

Where is the best place to plant daisies?

In order for the daisies in the flowerbed to grow actively and bloom for a long time all summer, it is important to choose the right place to plant them:

1. It is better to choose sunny plots, but some varieties are tolerant of partial shade. When planted under trees and tall shrubs, the plant's flowers will become smaller due to a lack of sunny color, or flowering will not occur at all.
2. The soil can be any, fertile black soil, sandy loam or loam. Heavy clay soils will have to be mixed with sand and humus.
3. It is also important to evaluate the acid-base balance of the soil. The soil should be neutral with a pH of about 6.5.
4. Close occurrence of groundwater, as well as a wetland, are undesirable.
5. It is better that the plot is protected from drafts and winds, which can bend the stems and spoil the decorative appearance of the plantings.

How to plant chamomile?

After determining the permanent location of the plant, where it will bloom and delight the eye for about 6 years, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the methods of planting a flower in the ground. Proper planting of chamomile can be done in two ways:

1. The seed planting method
   is considered the most popular among gardeners. If you carry out the procedure in mid-autumn, you can get buds next summer, because the seeds will undergo natural stratification in the soil over the winter.
2. With the help of seedlings
   . This method is good for growing garden chamomile in regions with harsh climates and short summers. From the moment the seeds are planted until the plants bloom, it will take about 2 years.

Sowing chamomile seeds

The easiest way to plant chamomile flowers in your own flowerbed is to sow seeds. Methodology of the procedure:

1. You can plant chamomile seeds either in late May or early June or in September. The planting period is determined by the climate of the region.
2. The plot is cleared of weeds and dug up.
3. Grooves of the required length with a depth of about 1-2 cm are prepared, which need to be moistened with 5-10 liters of warm, settled water.
4. The seeds are planted in the ground and sprinkled with earth.
5. After this, it is only important to water the plot and ensure that weeds do not clog the cultivated plantings.

Planting chamomile seedlings

If you choose to plant garden chamomile using the seedling method, then experienced gardeners advise:

1. Carry out the procedure in early March.
2. Any plastic containers filled with a mixture of sand and peat in equal proportions are selected as containers.
3. 2-3 seeds are planted in each container, the soil above which must be moistened with a spray bottle.
4. A mini-greenhouse is created using plastic film and the plantings are placed in a warm place next to the window.
5. As the soil dries, it must be moistened with a spray bottle.
6. The seeds will begin to germinate in 10-14 days, after which the polyethylene is removed and the containers are placed on the windowsill.
7. For better tillering, the strongest shoots are pinched at the level of 3-4 leaves.
8. You can plant seedlings in the ground 4-6 weeks after planting, if the threat of return frosts has already passed outside.
9. Each seedling is placed in a hole about 20-30 cm deep along with a lump of earth. The distance between flowers is 20-40 m depending on the variety.

Planting a plant: two alternative methods

Cultivated relatively recently, cornflower has not forgotten the skills of independent seed propagation. It is recommended to sow in the spring, at the end of May, when the threat of the return of cold weather has completely passed. The seeds are scattered thickly over the surface of the site and lightly sprinkled with fertile soil. In the northern regions, you can cover the area with seeds with agrofibre.

Nielberry seedlings are thinned out at the age of three pairs of true leaves. This is done because the small seeds of the plant are difficult to separate from each other. To combat thickening, leave 2-3 plants at each point, with up to 40 cm of distance between them. Watering is done with caution.

Plant chamomile seeds in open ground

You can start growing garden chamomile from seedlings. As in the first case, the seeds are almost not planted, and the seedlings are subsequently planted in individual containers. Before the emergence of shoots, the future cornflower plantation is kept under film or glass, and later it is generously sprayed with a spray bottle. Nielberry seedlings are transferred to open ground at the end of May.

Attention! The popovka root system cannot withstand stagnant water, which necessitates a good drainage layer in pots with seedlings.

Caring for daisies

The main nuances of how to care for chamomile are as follows:

1. Compliance with the watering regime, which will be different for seedlings and adult bushes.
2. Mandatory removal of weeds near flowers and loosening the soil after each watering to improve root aeration.
3. Garden chamomile requires regular application of fertilizers, which will promote both the growth of green mass and the long-term flowering of the plant.
4. Preparing a flower for winter involves cutting off the entire above-ground part, mulching the soil and covering it with insulating materials.

Watering daisies

The subtleties of how to water chamomile are as follows:

1. Young seedlings are sensitive to lack of moisture. In the first months of life, the soil under them should be moistened at least 1-2 times a week. About 2-3 liters of warm water are added to each bush.
2. Adult plants need watering only during dry periods, so the bushes are moistened about 2-4 times a month if there is no natural precipitation.
3. To better retain moisture in the soil, it is recommended to mulch the soil under daisies. This can be done using peat or garden sawdust.

Feeding daisies

When choosing what to fertilize daisies, it is important to be guided by the period of plant development:

1. In early spring, ammonium nitrate is added to the soil near the plant to stimulate the growth of green mass. The soil is watered abundantly, and fertilizer is simply sprinkled on it at the rate of about 20 g per 1 sq.m.
2. At the end of spring, when the buds begin to set, the plant is fed with urea. The granules are also spread on the soil. Depending on the condition of the soil, from 15 to 25 g per 1 sq.m. is used.
3. In the fall, organic matter is added to the plantings: mullein or bird droppings to prevent the soil from acidifying.

Pruning chamomile

After flowering ends, the plant prepares for winter:

1. This is done by pruning. The procedure for trimming daisies is no different from that for other garden flowers. With a clean and sharp pruning shears, the entire above-ground part is removed, which is eliminated from the site.
2. The ground near the plantings is mulched with peat.
3. The plants themselves are covered with dry leaves or spruce branches. In winter, it would be a good idea to sprinkle them with an additional layer of snow.

Do-it-yourself dacha

The medicinal properties of chamomile are known to many. Flowers are collected all summer, the main thing is not to confuse chamomile with other similar plants. Chamomile takes root very well in summer cottages. How to sow it correctly, collect medicinal raw materials and for what diseases to use, we will consider in this article.

Growing chamomile

This miracle grass grows very well in sunny areas. An annual plant can grow in one place for up to 5 years, due to self-sowing. Therefore, having planted chamomile once, you don’t have to worry about the seedlings every year. As necessary, you can collect dried inflorescences and sow them in those areas where you want to see these delicate flowers.

Seeds are sown either before winter, in October, or in early spring. Seeding rates: 0.3 g-0.5 g per m². For winter crops, increase the rate by 50%. For ease of sowing, you can mix small seeds with sand (ratio 1:40) and distribute them evenly over the surface or in grooves 1 cm deep. Germination begins at a temperature of +6°C. The optimal temperature for germination is +20°C. An important point is to prevent the formation of a crust on the soil surface. Thin and weak shoots will not be able to break through the roughened soil. Therefore, it is better to cover the moist soil in which the seeds are sown with film. After mass shoots, remove the film. Chamomile loves organic fertilizers, which are applied to the soil several weeks before planting the seeds. Chamomile begins to bloom 35-50 days after germination.

Collection of medicinal raw materials

For medicinal purposes, the inflorescences are used, which are collected on a sunny day, in the morning, after the dew has subsided. During the flowering season, about 5 collections are made. Depending on the density of crops and territory. Chamomile flowers should be dried outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, avoiding direct sunlight. Spread the raw material on cloth or paper in a thin layer, stirring occasionally. Dried chamomile inflorescences should be stored in paper or cloth bags, or in a glass jar, in dry rooms. The healing properties are not lost throughout the year.

Medicinal properties of chamomile

This plant, although small, has great potential.

Drinking chamomile tea or decoction helps with the following diseases:

• spasms;
• colitis;
• flatulence;
• diarrhea;
• inflammatory processes;
• acute respiratory infections;
• diseases of the uterus;
• diseases of the digestive system.

To prepare medicinal chamomile tea, you need 1 tbsp. Brew a spoonful of dried inflorescences with a glass of boiling water. Leave for 1 hour. Take for adults 0.5 cups 2 times a day. To prepare the decoction, you need to take 1 tbsp. spoon of chamomile and pour 1 cup of boiling water, leave in a water bath for 15 minutes. Let cool for 45 minutes. Strain the broth and add boiled water to 200 ml.

Often, chamomile is added to herbal teas for the treatment of gastritis, enteritis, colitis, and restorative teas. Chamomile is used as a tea, infusion or decoction, which is used internally, rinsed the mouth, made enemas, and also externally, in the form of lotions. For rheumatism and joint pain, use brewed chamomile pulp. Warm steamed inflorescences are applied to sore spots, covered with a towel, and wrapped in a warm scarf. All possible treatment methods must be agreed with a doctor; self-medication can be hazardous to health.

By the way, chamomile is also used in veterinary medicine to treat diseases of the digestive system of animals.

Decorative use of chamomile

Small flowers, when blooming en masse, look very good, both in group plantings and in single ones. You can sow flowers along alleys, paths, and borders. You just need to sow thickly to avoid bald spots and rare shoots. In group combinations, chamomile is used in flower beds and flower beds, rock gardens, and rockeries. The main thing is not to forget that the plant loves sunny areas. Shade and excessive moisture are contraindicated.

By growing chamomile in your summer cottage, you can not only provide yourself and your family with medicinal raw materials, but also make your flower beds and flower beds brighter and lighter. Delicate flowers are ready to delight with bloom and aroma all summer long.

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Reproduction of daisies

In order to propagate garden chamomile on a site, it is necessary to resort to one of the vegetative methods, since the seed method cannot preserve all the characteristics of the mother plant:

1. Dividing a chamomile bush is carried out in the fall after the plant blooms. The entire clump is dug up along with the earthen ball, carefully divided into several parts with a clean garden shovel and placed in holes equal in size to the earthen ball.
2. Chamomile can also be propagated by cuttings. You need to cut healthy stems about 15-20 cm in size. The cuttings are placed in water with Kornevin solution for 24-48 hours, after which they are planted in the ground. It is only important to water the cuttings regularly after planting.

Growing and Reproduction

Garden chamomile is planted in three ways:

1. Seedling method.

It is carried out in the spring by alternately planting young seedlings in separate holes located at a distance of 30 cm from each other. When using this planting method, you should beware of frosts, which can lead to the death of a fragile plant with its fragile root system. Until a stable average daily temperature is established, covering materials will help the summer resident.

1. Dividing the bush.

The most reliable way to obtain healthy planting material endowed with varietal identity from a mother bush that has reached an age of more than three years. It is produced both in spring and early autumn before the first significantly low temperatures appear. This condition will allow the seedling to prepare for the winter dormant period, strengthen the root system and obtain the necessary amount of nutrients from the soil.

1. Sowing seeds.

The most labor-intensive method that requires additional skills. Preparing seeds for sowing begins in April. The material must be kept in the refrigerator for about 10 days. Sowing is carried out in pre-prepared nutrient soil indoors under glass or in an open area of ​​land covered with plastic film. At the required level of humidity and temperature of at least +18-20 degrees, the first shoots appear after 10-14 days.

Planting at a permanent place of growth is carried out upon reaching the stage of the third true leaf. Seedlings need additional shelter until the average daily temperature reaches at least +15 degrees.

Chamomile transplant

In one place, garden chamomile can grow for about 5-6 years. Moreover, after the third year of life, the central part of the planting begins to die off, as a result of which the planting loses its decorative effect, so gardeners recommend regularly replanting the nivaria:

1. It is best to carry out the procedure in the fall after flowering has ended.
2. It is better to choose cloudy but dry weather.
3. In recommendations on how to replant chamomile, experienced gardeners talk about completely digging up the bush along with a lump of earth.
4. After being removed from the ground, the plant is divided into several bushes, and diseased and old shoots are removed.
5. The plots are planted in a new prepared place, watered and sprinkled with soil.

Diseases and pests of chamomile

The main diseases of garden chamomile that affect the plant include the following fungal infections:

• fusarium;
• gray rot;
• rust and leaf spot.
• false dew

All these diseases occur due to improper cultivation techniques: location in the shade, in swampy areas or due to excessive watering. When you notice the first symptoms of any illness, you should:

1. Identify the cause of the disease and remove excess moisture.
2. Sprinkle the entire soil around the curtain with ash.
3. Spray the chamomile itself with Bordeaux mixture.

Pests and diseases

Like all other plants, garden chamomile is susceptible to diseases and pests. And the key factor in the fight against this scourge is constant monitoring of the condition of plants and soil, as well as proper care. The following diseases can be distinguished:

• Gray rot. It is often a consequence of stagnant water. It starts with brown spots and ends with the shoots being covered with a kind of gray “fluff”;
• Fusarium. Symptoms include thinning of the stem, lethargy and lack of tone in the plant. Caused by a fungus that attacks the root system of chamomile;
• Rust. Also a fungal disease characterized by the appearance of yellow spots on the surface of the leaf. The latter are caused by fungal spores located on the reverse side of the leaf blade.

Fungicides are used as control agents, with which the plant is treated for preventive purposes. If the disease is missed and a significant part of the bush is affected, then it is necessary to prevent further spread of the disease and remove the plant.

As for pests, the following are especially “loved” by chamomile: wireworms, thrips, aphids and star-winged flies. The fight against these scourges consists of regular weeding and constant inspection of the bushes for suspicious changes. At the same time, today there are a large number of chemicals on the market that can successfully combat these pests, provided they are detected early.