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Grain Full Sun Low water

Chia

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Aztec superfood producing omega-3 rich seeds. A warmth-loving plant that does best between 18°C and 28°C, chia adapts well to tropical and subtropical conditions but cannot tolerate frost. Requires full sun (6-8 hours of direct light daily) with minimal watering — it prefers dry conditions between drinks. Plan for about 90-120 days from planting to maturity. A worthwhile addition to any garden, combining low maintenance with satisfying results.

Harvest 90-120 days
Temp Range 10°C — 35°C

Quick Answer: How to Grow Chia

Chia takes 90-120 days to harvest. It grows best in 18–28°C with full sun and low watering. Chia is not frost tolerant — wait until after the last frost to plant. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Chia in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Full Sun
💧
Water
Low
❄️
Frost
Sensitive
📅
Harvest
90-120 days

Temperature Range

18-28°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 18–28°C Tolerates: 10–35°C
Tropical suitable: Yes
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Needs long season. Harvest when most flowers have dried. Wait until soil warms to at least 18°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Overwatering is the most common mistake. Let soil dry out between waterings and ensure drainage is excellent.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: 10°C to 35°C
  • Optimal growing: 18°C to 28°C
  • Harvest in 90-120 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Chia loves the heat! It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates year-round.
  • 🌱 Chia needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.
  • 🌱 Chia is drought-tolerant — perfect for gardeners who tend to forget watering!

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Chia (Salvia hispanica) requires a long, warm, frost-free growing season of 120+ days. It thrives in well-draining, moderately fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–8.0 — it is remarkably tolerant of alkaline conditions unlike most crops. Loosen soil to 30 cm depth but avoid excessive fertilisation which delays seeding. Direct sow after last frost when soil reaches 16°C; chia seeds are tiny and should be scattered over a prepared seedbed, barely covered with 3 mm of soil, and gently firmed. Thin to 30 cm apart in rows 45 cm apart. Full sun is essential — shade dramatically reduces seed yield. Water during establishment and at flowering, but reduce once plants are established; chia is notably drought-tolerant. Apply a phosphorus-rich fertiliser at flowering to maximise seed set. In temperate climates, start indoors 6 weeks early and transplant carefully to extend the season.

Common Pests & Problems

Chia is notably resistant to most pests and diseases compared to other crops. Aphids occasionally colonise young plants and flowering shoots — knock off with water or apply insecticidal soap. Leaf spot diseases (Alternaria spp.) appear as dark angular spots in wet conditions; improve drainage and avoid overhead irrigation. Root rot (Pythium spp.) occurs in waterlogged or heavy soils; ensure excellent drainage. White fly can be a problem in greenhouse cultivation — use yellow sticky traps and introduce Encarsia formosa parasitic wasps. Spider mites appear in hot, dry conditions, causing stippled, bronzed foliage; increase humidity around plants and apply neem oil.

Harvest & Storage

Chia is ready for harvest when the majority of the flower spikes have dried to a grey-brown colour and seeds can be heard rattling inside the dried calyxes. Harvest in the morning to avoid seed loss from pod shatter in the heat of the day. Cut entire flower spikes, place in paper bags, and allow to dry for a further week in a warm, airy location. Thresh by rubbing the dried spikes between your hands over a container, then separate seeds from chaff using a fine sieve or gentle blowing. Store completely dry seeds in airtight glass jars in a cool, dark pantry where they keep for 4–5 years — the high omega-3 content is stable due to the seeds' natural antioxidants.

Popular Varieties

Salvia hispanica (standard chia) is the species itself — no widely differentiated named cultivars exist in the manner of vegetable varieties, as the crop has primarily been grown as a landrace selection. Black-seeded types are the most common in commercial production and have a slightly higher antioxidant content. White chia seeds are a naturally occurring variant, milder in flavour and slightly more expensive in the market; nutritionally comparable to black chia. Golden chia is a term for seed batches with a mix of white and black seeds. Researchers have developed improved agronomic lines for temperate climates such as the varieties being trialled in Europe under Sativa Rheinau, with earlier maturity better suited to shorter seasons.

Where to Grow Chia

Chia can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

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Europe

80 cities
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Asia

79 cities
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North America

78 cities
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Africa

39 cities
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South America

39 cities
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Oceania

19 cities
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Middle East

16 cities

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
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Amsterdam, NL medium
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Ankara, TR medium
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Antalya, TR medium
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Athens, GR medium
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Barcelona, ES medium
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Bari, IT medium
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Belgrade, RS medium
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Bergen, NO medium
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Berlin, DE medium
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Bilbao, ES medium
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Bologna, IT medium
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Bordeaux, FR medium
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Bratislava, SK medium
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Brussels, BE medium
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Bucharest, RO medium
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Budapest, HU medium
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Catania, IT medium
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Cologne, DE medium
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Copenhagen, DK medium
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Corfu, GR medium
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Cork, IE medium
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Dublin, IE medium
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Dubrovnik, HR medium
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Edinburgh, GB medium
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Florence, IT medium
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Frankfurt, DE medium
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Gdansk, PL medium
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Genoa, IT medium
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Glasgow, GB medium
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Gothenburg, SE medium
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Hamburg, DE medium
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Helsinki, FI medium
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Heraklion, GR medium
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Istanbul, TR medium
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Izmir, TR medium
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Krakow, PL medium
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Kyiv, UA medium
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Limassol, CY medium
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Lisbon, PT medium
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Ljubljana, SI medium
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London, GB medium
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Lyon, FR medium
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Madrid, ES medium
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Malaga, ES medium
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Marseille, FR medium
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Milan, IT medium
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Munich, DE medium
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Naples, IT medium
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Nice, FR medium
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Nicosia, CY medium
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Oslo, NO medium
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Palermo, IT medium
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Paris, FR medium
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Porto, PT medium
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Poznan, PL medium
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Prague, CZ medium
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Reykjavik, IS medium
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Riga, LV medium
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Rome, IT medium
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Seville, ES medium
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Sofia, BG medium
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Split, HR medium
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Stockholm, SE medium
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Strasbourg, FR medium
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Stuttgart, DE medium
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Tallinn, EE medium
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Thessaloniki, GR medium
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Tirana, AL medium
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Toulouse, FR medium
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Turin, IT medium
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Turku, FI medium
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Valencia, ES medium
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Valletta, MT medium
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Verona, IT medium
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Vienna, AT medium
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Vilnius, LT medium
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Warsaw, PL medium
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Zagreb, HR medium
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Zurich, CH medium
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🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
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Almaty, KZ medium
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Bali, ID medium
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Bandung, ID medium
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Bangalore, IN medium
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Bangkok, TH medium
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Beijing, CN medium
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Busan, KR medium
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Cebu, PH medium
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Chandigarh, IN medium
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Chengdu, CN medium
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Chennai, IN medium
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Chiang Mai, TH medium
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Chittagong, BD medium
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Chongqing, CN medium
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Coimbatore, IN medium
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Colombo, LK medium
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Da Nang, VN medium
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Dalian, CN medium
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Davao, PH medium
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Delhi, IN medium
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Dhaka, BD medium
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Dharan, NP medium
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Fukuoka, JP medium
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Galle, LK medium
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Guangzhou, CN medium
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Hangzhou, CN medium
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Hanoi, VN medium
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Harbin, CN medium
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Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
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Hong Kong, HK medium
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Hyderabad, IN medium
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Incheon, KR medium
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Indore, IN medium
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Islamabad, PK medium
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Jaipur, IN medium
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Jakarta, ID medium
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Jeju, KR medium
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Johor Bahru, MY medium
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Karachi, PK medium
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Kathmandu, NP medium
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Kochi, IN medium
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Kolkata, IN medium
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Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
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Kunming, CN medium
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Kyoto, JP medium
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Lahore, PK medium
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Lucknow, IN medium
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Manila, PH medium
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Mumbai, IN medium
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Nagoya, JP medium
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Nanjing, CN medium
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Nha Trang, VN medium
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Okinawa, JP medium
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Osaka, JP medium
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Pattaya, TH medium
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Penang, MY medium
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Phnom Penh, KH medium
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Pune, IN medium
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Sapporo, JP medium
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Seoul, KR medium
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Shanghai, CN medium
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Shenzhen, CN medium
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Siem Reap, KH medium
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Singapore, SG medium
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Surabaya, ID medium
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Surat, IN medium
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Taipei, TW medium
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Tashkent, UZ medium
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Tbilisi, GE medium
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Tokyo, JP medium
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Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
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Varanasi, IN medium
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Vientiane, LA medium
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Visakhapatnam, IN medium
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Wuhan, CN medium
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Xi'an, CN medium
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Xiamen, CN medium
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Yangon, MM medium
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🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
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Anchorage, US medium
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Atlanta, US medium
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Austin, US medium
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Baltimore, US medium
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Baton Rouge, US medium
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Boise, US medium
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Boston, US medium
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Bridgetown, BB medium
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Buffalo, US medium
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Calgary, CA medium
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Cancun, MX medium
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Charleston, US medium
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Charlotte, US medium
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Chattanooga, US medium
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Chicago, US medium
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Denver, US medium
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Des Moines, US medium
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Detroit, US medium
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Edmonton, CA medium
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El Paso, US medium
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Fargo, US medium
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Fresno, US medium
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Guadalajara, MX medium
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Halifax, CA medium
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Hartford, US medium
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Havana, CU medium
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Honolulu, US medium
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Houston, US medium
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Jacksonville, US medium
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Kansas City, US medium
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Kingston, JM medium
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Knoxville, US medium
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Las Vegas, US medium
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Little Rock, US medium
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Los Angeles, US medium
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Louisville, US medium
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Lubbock, US medium
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Madison, US medium
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Memphis, US medium
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Mexico City, MX medium
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Miami, US medium
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Milwaukee, US medium
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Minneapolis, US medium
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Monterrey, MX medium
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Montreal, CA medium
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Nashville, US medium
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New Orleans, US medium
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New York, US medium
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Oaxaca, MX medium
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Oklahoma City, US medium
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Omaha, US medium
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Ottawa, CA medium
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Panama City, PA medium
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Phoenix, US medium
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Pittsburgh, US medium
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Portland, US medium
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Puebla, MX medium
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Quebec City, CA medium
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Raleigh, US medium
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Richmond, US medium
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Sacramento, US medium
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Salt Lake City, US medium
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San Diego, US medium
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San Francisco, US medium
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San Jose, CR medium
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Santo Domingo, DO medium
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Saskatoon, CA medium
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Savannah, US medium
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Seattle, US medium
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Spokane, US medium
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St. Louis, US medium
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Tampa, US medium
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Toronto, CA medium
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Tucson, US medium
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Vancouver, CA medium
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Victoria, CA medium
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Winnipeg, CA medium
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✓

🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
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Accra, GH medium
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Addis Ababa, ET medium
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Algiers, DZ medium
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Antananarivo, MG medium
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Arusha, TZ medium
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Bamako, ML medium
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Bloemfontein, ZA medium
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Cairo, EG medium
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Cape Town, ZA medium
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Casablanca, MA medium
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Dakar, SN medium
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Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
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Douala, CM medium
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Durban, ZA medium
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Entebbe, UG medium
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Fez, MA medium
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Freetown, SL medium
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Harare, ZW medium
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Johannesburg, ZA medium
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Kampala, UG medium
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Kigali, RW medium
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Kinshasa, CD medium
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Lagos, NG medium
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Libreville, GA medium
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Lilongwe, MW medium
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Lome, TG medium
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Luanda, AO medium
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Lusaka, ZM medium
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Maputo, MZ medium
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Marrakech, MA medium
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Mombasa, KE medium
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Nairobi, KE medium
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Ouagadougou, BF medium
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Port Louis, MU medium
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Pretoria, ZA medium
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Tunis, TN medium
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Windhoek, NA medium
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Zanzibar, TZ medium
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🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
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Asuncion, PY medium
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Barranquilla, CO medium
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Belem, BR medium
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Bogota, CO medium
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Brasilia, BR medium
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Buenos Aires, AR medium
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Cali, CO medium
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Campinas, BR medium
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Caracas, VE medium
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Cartagena, CO medium
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Concepcion, CL medium
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Cordoba, AR medium
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Curitiba, BR medium
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Cusco, PE medium
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Fortaleza, BR medium
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Georgetown, GY medium
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Goiania, BR medium
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Guayaquil, EC medium
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La Paz, BO medium
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Lima, PE medium
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Manaus, BR medium
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Medellin, CO medium
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Mendoza, AR medium
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Montevideo, UY medium
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Paramaribo, SR medium
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Port of Spain, TT medium
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Porto Alegre, BR medium
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Quito, EC medium
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Recife, BR medium
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Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
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Rosario, AR medium
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Salvador, BR medium
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Santa Cruz, BO medium
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Santiago, CL medium
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Sao Paulo, BR medium
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Sucre, BO medium
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Trujillo, PE medium
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Valparaiso, CL medium
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🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
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Alice Springs, AU medium
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Auckland, NZ medium
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Brisbane, AU medium
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Cairns, AU medium
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Canberra, AU medium
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Christchurch, NZ medium
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Darwin, AU medium
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Dunedin, NZ medium
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Gold Coast, AU medium
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Hamilton, NZ medium
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Hobart, AU medium
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Melbourne, AU medium
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Noumea, NC medium
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Perth, AU medium
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Suva, FJ medium
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Sydney, AU medium
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Townsville, AU medium
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Wellington, NZ medium
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🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
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Amman, JO medium
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Baghdad, IQ medium
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Beirut, LB medium
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Doha, QA medium
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Dubai, AE medium
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Erbil, IQ medium
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Jeddah, SA medium
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Kuwait City, KW medium
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Manama, BH medium
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Muscat, OM medium
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Riyadh, SA medium
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Sana'a, YE medium
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Tabriz, IR medium
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Tehran, IR medium
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Tel Aviv, IL medium
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✓

When should I plant chia in my city?

The best time to plant chia depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 18°C and 28°C. Wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow chia in winter?

Chia is not frost tolerant and cannot survive winter outdoors in most temperate climates. In tropical areas (USDA Zones 10+), it may grow year-round.

Get Chia Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Chia seeds and starter plants online.

Shop on Burpee Search on Amazon

People Also Search For

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Zucchini

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Frequently Asked Questions about Chia

When should I plant chia?

The best time to plant chia depends on your local climate. Chia grows best in temperatures between 18°C and 28°C (can tolerate 10°C to 35°C). Chia is not frost tolerant, so wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can chia grow in tropical climates?

Yes! Chia can grow in tropical climates. It's successfully grown in tropical cities like Abidjan, Abu Dhabi, Accra. Chia requires full sun and low watering.

How long does chia take to grow?

Chia typically takes 90-120 days from planting to harvest. It requires full sun and low watering. Needs long season. Harvest when most flowers have dried. Wait until soil warms to at least 18°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Overwatering is the most common mistake. Let soil dry out between waterings and ensure drainage is excellent.

Find the Best Time to Plant Chia

See the planting calendar for Chia in these popular cities:

London, GBMumbai, INNew York, USParis, FRSingapore, SGSydney, AUTokyo, JPToronto, CA

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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