Growing Chia Seeds Plants is easy, not very different from other salvias. Not only will these plants greet you with beautiful flowers but they also allow you to harvest homegrown seeds in no time.
Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) are native to Mexico and Guatemala. They gained a lot of popularity recently due to their nutritional value and health benefits. This annual herb is a member of the Lamiaceae or mint family. These plants have an aggressive spread like many mint plants.
The blooms of chia make a spike that look-like wheat on stems that reach up to 3-4 feet tall; the little bell-shaped blossoms appear from spring to summer in a violet-blue hue.
You can germinate chia seeds in pots to start them indoors or enclosed garden area.
Chia seeds grow best in warm climates, for example, USDA zones 8-11. If you live in a cold climate, start the seeds in the fall. For warmer areas, you can grow chia seeds at all times of the year.
Remember, chia is a short-day plant, and the flowering and eventually seeding depends entirely on where it is grown. It will fail to flower in a season where days are longer than 10-12 hours. For example, it will start to bloom around October in Northern Hemisphere and around April in Southern Hemisphere.
The plant is not at all tolerant to cold and will die immediately in an early frost.
Grow chia plants in full sun, just like you plant other flowering salvias for the best harvest. Avoid keeping the plant in the shade, as it won’t grow well. A spot that gets plenty of direct light for the most part of the day would be the best.
You can also grow this in partial sunlight, but a minimum of 4-5 hours of direct sun exposure is essential for productivity.
Chia plants are versatile and adapt to a range of soil
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