While you can buy Chia Seeds at the supermarket and online stores, it would be a great addition to green thumb consumers to plant and grow their own Chia plant.  

You Might Also Want To Read: Tiny but healthy: Here’s what you need to know about Chia seeds

  They are easy to grow and aside from the seeds, you can also use and consume its leaves and sprouts. © sherjaca / FotoliaBefore planting, take note that Chia plants can grow to the size of a large bush or small tree. It also grows taller unlike most herbs, so make sure to give sufficient space, as well as headroom, to grow. Some Chia plants grow as tall as an average adult person, more or less six feet, while others start to flower around five feet. Since Chia seeds are tiny, you don’t have to dig a hole to bury them. In your weed-free garden, lightly ruffle the area before sprinkling a few seeds over the soil and rub it gently to cover them. Then, water the seeds daily and after a week or so, you can expect to see tiny sprouts popping out of the soil.  

You Might Also Want To Read: A Closer Look At Cultivating Your Own Pot Garden

  If you prefer to start your Chia plant indoors, you can also germinate the seeds in pots. Sprinkle the seeds lightly in a pot and water regularly. When the sprouts are about three inches tall, you can now ready for transplanting. More tips to take note of, such as:

• Remember to add mulch and other compost to your Chia plant as they grow. But place them on top and let it feed the soil from above;
• Don’t clear existing weeds until you are ready to fill the space;
• Plant only in freshly cleared space to avoid unnecessary competition from deeper weed seeds.

When harvesting Chia seeds, pick a flower as soon as most of the petals have fallen off. Don’t wait until the flower head turns brown or you will risk losing the seeds. Give the heads time to dry in a paper bag or on a drying rack. As you let it dry, you’ll notice that some Chia seeds will start to break free. Note: Don’t hang your plant upside down. The fastest way to crush the dried flower heads and extract the seeds is by rubbing it using a flat hand. Once done, use a sifter to get rid of the excess. Chia seeds come in various colors, including brown, black, and white.  

Reference

LongTimeMother. (10 May 2019). How I Grow and Harvest Organic Chia Seeds. Den Garden. Retrieved on 9 July 2020.