How To Grow Chia seeds. Growing Chia: Planting Guide, Care, Problems and Harvest

How To Grow Chia seeds. Growing Chia: Planting Guide, Care, Problems and Harvest

Chia has become incredibly popular due to its myriad health benefits and the sheer number of recipes the seeds can be used for. Hopefully, that means more people will start growing chia in their home gardens.

The seeds are high in Omega-3 and fiber and can be added to cakes and muffins, yogurt, desserts, drinks, and many other dishes.

The best thing about chia is how easily they germinate and grow. If you’ve seen chia seeds in the store and didn’t know you could grow your own, you’re in for a treat.

Black vs White Chia

You may have seen white and black chia seeds in the store. Those seeds don’t come from different varieties; they’re from the same plant, Salvia hispanica .

However, if you plant white seeds, you’re more likely to get a plant with more white seeds. Black chia seeds have slightly more protein, but the difference is small.

If you see brown seeds, they’re either immature or not chia seeds at all.

Seed varieties come in winter and summer types. They grow the same way, but need different handling.

You may also see desert chia, or golden chia, Salvia columbariae . This plant is native to the western United States. It’s used in a similar way to chia, though it’s a different plant.

How to Grow Chia

Chia are pretty plants with delicate tube-like purple and white flowers on tall spikes. They belong to the mint family. This herb is native to Mexico and Guatemala.

The plants get about 5 feet tall.

Where to Plant Chia

Chia performs well in USDA zones 8 to 12. Frost kills immature plants and may prevent flowering on mature plants. If you don’t live in these zones, you can still plant chia as an annual.

The plants need warm temps to start growing. It shouldn’t get below 70°F.

Chia need full sun. Chia plants grow naturally in countries close to the equator so bear that in mind when deciding where to put it.

Aim for a pH of 6 to 8.5. Chia prefer sandy, well-drained soil. They’re desert plants, so they can’t stand wet feet.

A deficiency of nitrogen will negatively impact flower formation and seed yield.

When to Plant

When to plant depends on which type of seeds you have.

Sow winter chia in the fall for an early summer harvest.

Summer chia don’t like cool spring temperatures. Sow in late spring for a late summer or fall harvest.

Container Planting

Chia seeds can be grown in pots, but I’ve always found the growth to be stunted. Chia plants grow the size of a large bush and much prefer the garden.

You have two options with container growing. The first is to use a large container – 20 gallons is sufficient. This way, you can still get a nice seed harvest.

The second option is to use a smaller container and grow the plant to use the leaves for tea. You likely won’t get a good seed output in a small container, however.

Planting Seed

You can purchase chia seeds from the supermarket and use them to plant. I’ve bought organic chia seeds from a health food store. The germination rate was well over 80%.

Better still, purchase seeds from a seed company.

To get the best result, plant inside in seed raising mix in small pots. Sprinkle a small number of seeds on the surface of the soil and water well. When the plant is about three inches tall, transplant into the garden.

You can sow seeds directly into the garden. Sprinkle on the soil and water well. Thin out as required.

Microgreens

If you don’t want to plant the seeds in the garden, but still want the health benefits of chia, use the sprouts as microgreens.