How often do I pick German chamomile flowers and how should I dry them for tea or oil buyers?
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German chamomile gives multiple flower pickings over the flowering season, with flowers picked at intervals, often every several days to a week, as fresh blooms keep opening. Pick the flowers when fully open for the best quality, and handle gently. For dried flower buyers, dry the flowers in shade with good air flow to preserve colour and aroma, avoiding harsh sun, until they are crisp, then store in clean dry containers away from moisture and light. For oil, fresh or partly dried flower heads are distilled. The repeated picking is labour heavy, which is the main cost. Keep the flower clean and free of leaf and stalk for the best grade. Confirm with your buyer whether they want dried flower or material for oil, and the moisture standard, before processing.
We pick every few days as new flowers open. Shade drying kept the colour and smell, which the tea buyer wanted. Hand picking is slow work though.