Salvia hispanica plant

How to grow Salvia hispanica – growing and care:

Short day frost free (for seeds), sandy soils

How to care:
Need to take care that the plant will have at least 120-180 hot days in order to get seeds and also need that won’t be too cold in the autumn if not won’t bloom, the flowers bloom in autumn to the early spring, because in order to bloom the flowers need short days and long dark night,

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No

Difficulties or problems when growing:
?

Planting season?
End of the summer to autumn

growing zone

Pests and diseases:
White fly

Pruning season:
All season

How to prune:
No need to prune

Size of the plant?
60-150 cm, 24-60 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter / flower pot / containers:
Yes, when grow in container, size 5-10L (1.3-2.6 gallons), require small to average amount of water with well-drained soil and the water go out of the pot, soil need to be well ventilated and make enough hole in the containers with good drainage, can us in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite and add rich soil with organic matter.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Autumn / Winter 90-120 days from sowing

General information about the flower:
Flower color purple or white grow in clusters on the end of the stems

Pollination is done by:
Bees

Edible seeds

Seeds harvest season:
Winter to spring

Pests or diseases for the seeds:
Birds

What can be done with big quantities of Salvia hispanica seeds?
Beverage, oil

How to harvest chia seeds:
To pick the seeds before it’s start to fall

How long does it take for the seeds?
120-180 days from sowing

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season
Autumn / Winter / Spring

How to harvest the leaves?
Trim the leaves in the base next to the stems

Information about leaves:
Leaves edible color green shape ovate with sharp top the edges serrated, sprouts edible

Uses of Salvia hispanica leaves:
Sprouts: cooked, salad, stews. Leaves: beverage

How to grow Salvia hispanica from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Better to sow it in temperature of 20-25C (68-77F) possible in 15-29C (59-84F) but will take more time to germinate and less seeds will germinate

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dry and dark location better in root temperature or refrigerator

Sowing season:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone lower than 10a (include) but better in spring, autumn to winter in hardiness zone 10b+ spring, autumn or winter, and better not to sow it in hot summer days

How to plant:
Plant in sunny location until 25C (77F), temperature that will be above in half shade

Planting spacing:
30*40cm (12*16 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
3-6mm (0.2-0.4 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, humidity, sunny location

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water, don’t let the soil dry and keep the soil moist

Germination time:
2-3 weeks in optimal condition but can take 5 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Moist soil, sunny location but if it’s in the summer need to increase the amount of water

Scientific name:

Salvia hispanica

Alternative names: Chia, Hispanica plant