How to Plant and Harvest Chia Seeds

Chia seeds belong to the min family of Lamiaceae and it can vary is sizes which depends on the moisture available there and its range. Chia plants are 3 cm to 4 cm under dry environmental conditions and upto 60 cm, if it gets optimal growth conditions. The leaves are thick and wrinkled and are dark green in colour. Deeply lobed with thin cover of fine, soft, greyish hairs are available on its upper surface. It has many stems which emerge from the base of the plant. It has flowers with two lips; the colour is pale blue to deep blue. Each flower has 13 tiny flat seeds which is 1.5-2 mm in length and is gray to light brown in colours.

Growing Conditions

Chia belongs to the foot land, coastal sage scrubland; in chaparral communities in California have extensive stands. It can be grown in open, grassy areas of woodlands, in sandy washes, hillsides, gravely and disturbed sites. It can be found in elevations which are below 1200 meters but it has the ability to grow 2100 meters of Chia.

Cultivation and Care of the Chia Plant

Chia is the annual wild flowers which are planted into prepared bed. It requires full sunlight, good drainage and water to make you healthier.  The Chia seeds can be broadcasted in autumn after sprinkling the seeds onto the soil. Then charate is sprinkled over the bed of seeds. In growing period it must not be watered regularly. Seeds can be planted in plain land in early spring in porous soil. Then sprinkle seeds and press little to ensure seed’s contact with soil. Water gently and reduce watering after the seedlings emerge.

Chia seeds can be self sowed if not eaten by ants and birds. There are bees that pollinate Chia. It is capable of self pollinating if there is absence of ants and birds.