Easy to grow, harvest, and use, chamomile looks lovely planted among veggies in the garden, tucked into raised beds filled with herbs, or added to a pretty container on your patio or balcony.Companion planting gurus swear that chamomile helps repel some pests with its fragrance, too.In fact, ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans sang the praises of chamomile, using it as an herbal remedy for ailments ranging from inflammation to insomnia.Most popularly, though, dried, crushed chamomile flowers and leaves have, for many years, been used to brew tea that aids sleep, relieves anxiety, and calms stomach upsets.Chamomile, as you might guess from its pretty white flowers with yellow centers, is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae).That means our plants don't have to travel far to reach your local retail location, so they experience less transport stress.).In fact, in hot Southern climates, chamomile benefits from a bit of afternoon shade, which will help keep the blooms from drooping.To give your chamomile a great start, add aged compost-enriched Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics™ All-Purpose In-Ground Soil to your garden bed.Chamomile's shallow roots benefit from a layer of mulch around the plant's base to help prevent weeds and retain soil moisture.The best way to know if you need to water the chamomile is to stick your index finger into the soil about an inch down near the base of the plant.Because chamomile stems, which grow about 2 feet high, can get floppy in poor, nutrient-deprived soil, make sure to feed your plant regularly.For a convenient way to feed container-grown chamomile, use a water-soluble fertilizer like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition every week or two throughout the growing season.Or, if you have space, plant your chamomile in a sunny area and let it spread—your friends and neighbors will be happy to share in your bounty!Chamomile can get a little top heavy as the season goes on, so a support—like a peony ring or bamboo stakes with twine—can help keep it upright and looking lovely.If aphids become a problem, spray them off the plant with water or treat it with insecticidal soap if there's a serious infestation.To extend your harvest time in fall, a hoop house or row cover should give your plants some protection from early cold spells.Harvest flowers after they fully open, when the petals begin arching backwards toward the underside of the bloom.Place the flowers and leaves on a screen or parchment paper in a cool space out of direct sun, allowing them to dry thoroughly, which usually takes about two weeks.While chamomile is most famous for its use in tea to help ease stress, relieve stomach upset, and to boost the immune system, it's also an excellent addition to baths.Add a cup of fresh or dried flowers for a soothing, aromatic soak that can help relieve itchy and inflamed skin conditions like eczema, sunburns, and rashes