Discover how to cultivate this nutrient-packed powerhouse in your own backyard.
Chia seeds have experienced something of a revival in recent years, and for good reason; their impressive nutritional profile, including omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and protein, means that their status as a superfood is well-earned. Although native to Central and South America, chia seeds grow well in USDA climate zones 8-11, making Nigeria an excellent place to grow them. This article will guide you through the steps needed to grow chia seeds at home, from soil preparation and seed selection to harvesting, drying, and storage. We will also take a look at some popular chia seed recipes and other products you can make from chia seeds!
What Is Chia?
Chia is a type of mint plant that produces small white and purple flowers, but unlike mint, it is not grown for its leaves. The most common variety, Salvia hispanica, is more commonly grown for its highly nutritious seeds. Chia seeds have plenty of uses, from chia pudding or a breakfast bowl topper to a vegan egg replacement in certain dishes. Chia is super easy to grow, but good preparation is key if you want to maximise your seed harvest.
What Climate Do Chia Plants Need?
Before we get to planting chia seeds, we need to consider their optimal climate. Chia plants love warm, sunny conditions and need at least eight hours of sunlight every day to thrive. In their early stages, chia seedlings need consistent moisture, but once they’ve established a good root system, they become pretty drought-tolerant.
Preparing Soil for Chia Plants
Chia enjoys well-drained, sandy loam soils with lots of well-rotted organic matter. Consider mixing sand, silt, and clay soil in nearly equal amounts, with a little more favour given to the sand. If you have some organic compost to hand, add a little of that, too, as it will improve the structure and fertility of the soil mix. This should be sufficient for most amateur gardeners, but if you want to go even further, you could conduct a soil test to check the nutrient levels and pH, aiming for a pH level between 6 and 7.
Choosing the Best Chia Seeds
Starting with high-quality seeds will give you the best chance of a successful crop. Buy your seeds from reputable suppliers and choose a variety to suit the growing conditions in your area. You can grow chia plants from food-grade seeds, but you’re likely to have better luck if you look for seeds grown for planting, rather than eating.
When Should I Plant Chia Seeds?
The best planting time will depend on where you are. In Nigeria, it is best to plant chia seeds at the start of the rainy season. This will give the young plants the best start, allowing them to develop a strong root system and become more drought-tolerant in time for the drier weather. However, if you have a reliable irrigation system or don’t mind spending time watering the plants yourself, chia can also be cultivated during the dry season.
Sowing Chia Seeds
Chia can be grown in containers, but planting them in the ground is likely to result in bigger plants and harvests. Chia seeds should be sown directly into your prepared soil mix, either using broadcast seeding or row planting. For broadcast seeding, simply scatter the seeds evenly on the surface of the soil. If you’d rather plant them in rows, create shallow furrows and sow the seeds, spacing them 15 to 20 cm apart, and cover very lightly with soil, as chia seeds don’t like to be planted too deep.
How Much Water Do Chia Plants Need?
In its early stages, chia benefits from regular watering. However, it can be susceptible to root rot, so make sure your soil drains well, and don’t let your plants get waterlogged. Once established, chia plants are fairly drought-tolerant. This means you can reduce your watering or irrigation substantially when the plants are past the seedling stage, but do try to ensure a little moisture remains in the soil. If your plants are in the ground, this will be much easier, as their roots will be able to reach deep into the earth, where moisture is less likely to have evaporated than near the surface.
Do You Need to Fertilise Chia?
Chia doesn’t need that much attention once established, but applying a balanced fertiliser to the soil before planting can improve growth and yield. Avoid nitrogen-heavy fertilisers, as these will promote leaf growth at the expense of seed development.
Preventing Pests and Disease in Chia
Chia is quite resistant to pests and disease, making them an ideal low-effort crop. However, common pests, like aphids and birds, may still try to cause problems with your chia plants. If this happens, add netting to your plants to protect them from birds. To get rid of aphids, add water and a couple of drops of basic dish soap (less is more!) to a spray bottle and apply it to the affected plants.
How To Tell if Chia Seeds Are Ready to Harvest
Chia plants take three to four months (90 to 120 days) to mature. When the flower heads start to turn brown and dry out, it’s a good sign that they are ready to harvest. When shaken, you should be able to hear the dry seeds rattling around. Try not to harvest too early, as this will result in immature seeds and low yields. However, you don’t want to leave it too long, either – not long after the seed head turns brown, some will burst or tear, dropping their seeds into the soil. This can be a good thing if you want to plant chia in the same spot again, as it may well grow back without manual reseeding. However, it does mean you’ll lose some of your harvest, so proceed with caution! If you want to let the plants reseed themselves, consider leaving one or two in the ground without harvesting and letting them drop their seeds.
How To Harvest and Dry Chia Seeds
Not only are chia plants easy to grow – they’re also straightforward to harvest! Simply snip off the seed heads and put them in a paper bag to let them finish drying, if they’re not already there. Once they’re dry and crispy, you can crush the flower heads to loosen the seeds. You will then need to separate the chia seeds from the debris left from the seed heads. This can be done in one of two ways. You could use a fine sieve or mesh to strain out the small particles from the seeds. You could also use a process called ‘winnowing’, which involves pouring the seeds back and forth between two receptacles, either outside in the breeze, or inside next to a fan. The circulating air should blow away the lighter bits, leaving you with the seeds.
Storing Chia Seeds
A little goes a long way with chia seeds, so you’re likely to need to store them! Like most dry goods, chia seeds do best when kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. When stored in this way, your chia seeds should be perfectly fine for up to two years.
What To Make with Chia Seeds
Once you’ve grown your own chia seeds, you’ll probably be excited to use them in lots of different ways! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Whole Chia Seeds: The seeds can be eaten in their whole, raw form as a superfood! Consider adding them to smoothies or yoghurts for a quick boost.
Chia Flour: If you’re looking for a gluten-free flour alternative, you could do a lot worse than chia seeds. When ground into a powder, chia seeds can be used in the same way you would use plain flour.
Chia Oil: This one’s a little harder to do at home, but it’s perfect if you’re looking to grow chia commercially. Chia oil can be extracted from chia seeds to be used in cooking or as a dietary supplement. The abundance of omega-3 fatty acids found in chia makes the oil a healthy choice.
Chia Pudding: You can combine chia seeds with the milk of your choice to create chia pudding. Top with fruit and/or granola for a nutritious breakfast or snack!
Chia Egg: Looking for an egg replacement to use in baking? One tablespoon of whole chia seeds mixed with three tablespoons of water can be used to replace one egg in many recipes, including waffles, breads, and cookies. Scale it up if more eggs are needed.
Megan Diehl is a dedicated writer who loves to explore the world of food and agriculture, sharing insights that connect people to the roots of their sustenance. When she isn't writing, Megan can usually be found cooking for her family, creating textile art and gardening.
