The chia seeds in your pantry will sprout on a plate in 1–3 days and become microgreens in about 10 days. Chia (Salvia hispanica) is a mint-family plant from Mexico. Planted outdoors, it grows 3–6 ft (1–2 m) tall and blooms with purple flower spikes. Its seedlings look a lot like basil, so an herb identifier can confirm what’s sprouting. Wet chia seeds turn into a sticky gel, which makes soil-free growing the easiest method. Below you’ll find how to grow chia in soil, without soil, and as microgreens.
What Are Chia Seeds?
Chia seeds are the tiny seeds of the Chia (Salvia hispanica). Incan, Aztecs, and Mayan appreciated chia seeds. They used them for food and even medicine and some ritual practices. And there's no coincidence that 'chia' means 'strength' in the Mayan language due to its richness of antioxidants, healthy omega oils, vitamins, and minerals. So no doubt, these seeds are beneficial for health. Chia seeds are helpful with hypoglycemia, diabetes, and celiac disease and can lower cholesterol. It is surprising that with all of these health benefits, chia seeds became popular in the USA only in the 1980s!
Types of Chia Seeds
Chia seeds come in two colors, black and white, and both grow into the same plant, Salvia hispanica. Seed color is a genetic trait. White seeds come from white-flowered plants, and black or mottled seeds come from plants with purple flowers.
- Black chia seeds: These are the most common type in supermarkets. They’re actually mottled grey, black, and brown, and they sprout reliably on a plate or in soil.
- White chia seeds: These are less common and usually cost a bit more. Grow them the same way as black seeds. If you plant them outdoors, they’ll give you white flowers instead of purple.
Nutritionally, black and white chia are nearly identical. Avoid seeds that are uniformly small and reddish-brown, because they were harvested unripe and often don’t germinate. If you want to grow chia seeds as microgreens, any color from your pantry will work.
How to Grow Chia Seeds Without Soil
It's not that hard to grow chia seeds indoors. Here's one of the methods. As you can guess, you don't need soil at all!
- Soak seeds in the jar of water for 10 hours.
- Then you need the Gaia sprouter. Soak the trays for 20 minutes before using.
- Ten hours later, pour the soaked seeds into the tray and wait until the water drains out.
- After this, the seeds need to be rinsed with fresh water.
- Restack the sprouter.
- Don't forget to put the lid on top of the stacked trays. The seeds need moisture, so this will be extremely helpful.
- You need to repeat the simple procedure for seven days: rinse the trays twice daily.
This method can also be used for other plants such as kale, fenugreek, broccoli, mustard, clover, radish, etc. If you're facing any problems in the process, get help from our experts in Ask a Botanist feature.
Other Ways to Grow Chia Seeds
There are other methods, and some of them also don't require soil.
Plate Method
Mostly you don't need something special to grow the seeds; you can use the most available means, such as a plate and a piece of cloth.
- First of all, you need linen or nylon cloth on a plate.
- Mist the fabric and place the chia seeds on top of it.
- And then cover it with another plate.
You will see the results after a few days!
Regular Method
This method is the most common one; you will need only soil.
- Barely cover the seeds with soil. You can choose almost any substrate for this purpose. However, sandy and clay soils are the most suitable.
- Water regularly. Despite being drought-tolerant, chia seeds need a lot of water during the period when they are forming the roots.
- Then you can harvest the seeds from the plant when most of the petals fall off.
- Dry the flowers and separate the seeds from the petals.
And whatever method you choose, don't forget to place the plant somewhere it can get enough sunlight; full sun for six hours is the best.
Tips on How to Plant Chia Seeds
Planting as a process seems easy, but at the same time, you can still make some mistakes. So here are some tips on how to do everything well initially.
- Choose small containers with drainage holes.
- Place the seeds on the top of the soil.
- Spacing is not a big deal; just spread the seeds in the thin layer.
- Then slightly cover them with the soil. But not too deeply. Remember that seeds are tiny, and you can easily lose them below the soil.
- Another useful tip – consult with expertised Botanists to get any plant-related help.
How to Sprout Chia Seeds Step-By-Step
Not only seeds but also sprouted chia seeds are perfect for your health because they are an excellent source of chlorophyll and fiber. Also, as it was mentioned at the beginning, such food is extremely good for vegetarians or vegans – sprouted chia seeds can help you keep the levels of protein, iron, and calcium in check. And here are the methods and tips for growing chia seeds.
Shape Method
If aesthetics is very important to you, you can try to grow the seeds with the shape of literally anything! Sometimes such a method is called 'the pet method' because often, people are growing these seeds in the form of their favorite animals. Don't feel limited – you can choose whatever shape you want! And it's so easy!
- Choose the desired shape.
- Take a terra cotta dish.
- Distribute the seeds evenly in the bottom of the dish forming a shape you want.
- Water the seeds.
Be patient: soon you will see your little sprouts!
Jar Method
- Pick a mason jar or any container with a lid. The jar should have a wide mouth because it will be covered with a cloth.
- Let the seeds soak in water overnight.
- Over the night, the seeds will have a gel texture.
- The next day let the water drain out through the fabric.
How to Care for Chia Sprouts
The harvesting of chia plants is not hard at all! These plants don't need a lot of attention. But having chia seed sprouts in your kitchen can be extremely rewarding due to their benefits for health.
Light Recommendations
We have already mentioned that the chia plant is sun-loving. As you can guess, such a need for sun hints that this plant will be tolerant of hot weather. So if you want to grow them indoors, here are some tips:
- Choose a place where it can get 6 hours of bright full sun per day.
- Plant the seeds during the bright period of the day, not in the afternoon.
Mix & Soil Recommendations
The right soil is always the key to success for plants, and chia plants are no exception. Still, they are adaptable to different conditions.
- In their natural surroundings, these plants tend to grow in sandy soils. So pay attention to potting mix combined with sand or perlite.
- Good drainage is also essential. This plant can tolerate dryness but not soggy soil.
- It is worth mentioning terra cotta pots are the best type of containers for chia plants: they provide good drainage, absorb moisture, and increase humidity.
Water Recommendations
- During the growth season (mainly in spring), the plant needs more abundant watering than usual.
- Another time this plant needs a lot of moisture is the blooming period.
- Before watering the plant, ensure the top inch (2-3 cm) of the substrate is dry.
How to Harvest Chia Seeds?
Harvest chia seeds in late fall, once the flower heads start turning brown and dry. According to the UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, the pods should be picked when they just begin to brown. If you wait longer, the heads shatter and drop their seeds on the ground.
- Check the flower spikes weekly after the petals fall. When most of the calyxes (the small cups that hold the seeds) turn tan, the seeds inside are ripe.
- Cut the seed heads with a few inches of stem. Do this on a dry day so the seeds don’t mold.
- Place the heads upside down in a paper bag and let them dry for 1–2 weeks in a well-ventilated spot.
- Crush or rub the dry heads between your palms over a bowl to release the seeds.
- Pour the mix through a fine sieve, then gently blow away the remaining chaff.
- Store the seeds in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place.
Chia only flowers when nights get long, so in areas with early frost, cover the plants or cut the heads before the first freeze. Seeds from heads that are still green won’t ripen properly. Keep a handful to sow next spring, or leave a few heads on the plant and it will self-seed.
FAQ
How long does it take for chia seeds to grow?
Chia seeds usually sprout within 1–3 days on a damp plate or paper towel. In soil, they can take up to a week. Chia microgreens are ready to harvest in 7–14 days, once they have their first pair of leaves. A full chia plant needs about 4–5 months to flower and set seed.
How do you grow chia seeds without soil?
To grow chia seeds without soil, scatter a thin layer on a terracotta saucer, plate, or damp paper towel and mist it with water. The seeds form a gel that holds moisture and anchors the roots. Mist twice a day, keep the seeds out of direct sun, and harvest the sprouts in 7–10 days.
What do chia seeds grow into?
Chia seeds grow into Salvia hispanica, an annual herb in the mint family that reaches 3–6 ft (1–2 m) tall. It has wrinkled green leaves and spikes of purple or white flowers. Chia is a short-day plant, so it flowers only in late summer and fall, when nights get longer.
Can you grow chia seeds from the grocery store?
Yes, most raw chia seeds from the grocery store will sprout, because they are sold whole and unprocessed. Roasted, milled, or heat-treated seeds won’t germinate. To test a batch, mist a spoonful on a wet paper towel. If tiny white roots appear within 3 days, the seeds are good for growing.
Can you eat chia grass?
Yes, chia grass, the young sprouts and microgreens of chia, is edible. It has a mild, slightly peppery taste. Cut the stems above the seed layer once the first leaves open, and rinse them before eating. Discard any tray that smells musty or shows grey fuzz, because that is mold.
Do chia seeds need sunlight to grow at home?
Chia seeds don’t need light to germinate, but the sprouts need light as soon as they appear. When you grow chia seeds at home, place the sprouts near a bright window or under a grow light for 12–16 hours a day. Without enough light, the stems stretch and turn pale.
