Thoroughly moisten that upon which you are going to grow. If using a burlap bag or a small bit of baby blanket or similar medium - lay it on a plate or in a pan or something so that you don't end up watering your counter.
Likewise, if using a tray, put it on a plate or in a solid tray to capture water runoff. Spread seeds sparsely. You may cover your seeds : If planting on soil in a tray use another tray - up side down.
It is not always necessary when growing to cover them at all. When your plants grow up and begin to shed their hulls they are ready for light so move them if necessary to a well lighted location. If you go with sunlight be prepared to water more frequently. Room light will usually do quite nicely as well and will not dry out your medium as quickly. Keep the medium moist but not soggy by watering regularly. Water from the side if possible to prevent injuring the tiny plants. During the final hours minimize the surface moisture of your plants - they will store best in your refrigerator if they are dry to the touch.
So if you water try to keep the water off the plants - just water the medium. When most of the seeds have sprouted about 3 to 4 days , remove the bag and place your Chia in a sunny location A small amount of white "fuzz" is normal when your Chia seeds first sprout.
A member of the mint family, these plants Salvia hispanica are easily grown from seed and can sprout as quickly as two days. In fact, it happens all the time in my kitchen when chia seeds get stuck to the dish sponge or hide on the countertop! Despite their tiny seed size, chia plants can grow quite big: upwards of about 6 feet!
They require quite a bit of space in the garden and would do best in a garden bed rather than a pot. They will need as much space as a large bush or small tree would. These plants, with their large flower stalks of purple flowers, will attract bees and butterflies to your garden. To direct seed chia, weed out the garden in your selected spot. Loosen the topsoil and layer in the chia seeds. Thin out the chia sprouts after they are a few inches tall, leaving about inches of spacing on each side.
This ensures that the chia plant can grow in all directions. During the growth phase, keep the soil moist. Once established, chia plants can handle drier conditions, as its desert-based Meso-American roots imply. The plant will flower after about 12 weeks of growth. Chia plants will need to flower in order for you to harvest seeds. Frost will stop the growth of flowers, and thus, seeds in colder regions. Some reports show that chia plants can grow in cooler regions, but the shorter season might mean fewer seeds; and since they are so tiny, it might not be worth the effort.
If you live in a cooler climate but still want to practice growing these plants, chia sprouts can be eaten. Sprinkle some seeds into a pot of moist soil or a growing tray, and harvest them when they are about 2 inches tall. Rinse well and enjoy in salads or on sandwiches. Chia plants are easy to grow organically, and natural compounds in the leaves prevent most bugs. Chia seed plants are drought resistant, but thrive when they're watered regularly.
Apply water when the soil is dry to the touch or rainfall is less than 1 inch per week, advises the National Gardening Association. The blue to lavender chia flowers begin to appear in mid to late summer, about four months after germination of the seeds.
The flowers attract native bees, honeybees, butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden, making it a hotbed of wildlife activity. Once they're pollinated, the flowers die back and the tiny seeds develop. Deadhead the flowers to encourage continued blooming until frost. If you allow the seeds to self-sow throughout their planting beds, sparrows and other seed-eating birds will flock to the garden to enjoy this tiny, oval treat.
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