Small chamomile flower in compost.

You don’t need to fertilize your plants once they’re established. You can prepare the planting area by adding a half inch of organic compost to the soil about two weeks before you plant. Beyond that, forget about it. Like other herbs, chamomile is one of those plants that does better when you don’t fuss over it. If you over-fertilize, you’ll actually wind up with fewer flowers.

The only exception is container-grown chamomile. In that case, add a liquid organic fertilizer to your watering can for your weekly watering. But even so, you want to be careful not to overdo it. Don’t fertilize seedlings until they’re three months old. Some seasoned herb growers suggest you use only half the amount of fertilizer recommended on the label.

It’s a case of less is more, so don’t overthink the fertilizing. Just keep an eye on the plants; if they look a little droopy or a little sparse, you can give them a little fertilizer boost. Once you see how the plants respond, you can adjust your fertilizing from there.

Do you fertilize your chamomile plants? What type of fertilizer do you use? How often do you fertilize? Please tell us exactly how and when you fertilize your chamomile plants.