Growing Chia for Seeds in Georgia: Challenges and Emerging Varieties

Q: Can we grow chia in Georgia? I like to sprinkle seeds on cereal.

I have fond college memories of growing chia on a clay Nixon figure—scraggly green beard, not much hair! Chia (Salvia hispanica) needs a long season to produce seed—only south Georgia gardeners could try. Like many salvias, it needs short days of late fall to flower. Even if it flowers, seeds are tiny—hours to shake loose and winnow chaff. But University of Kentucky researchers are undeterred! They're breeding new chia varieties without such exacting requirements, hoping for a new Kentucky crop. Try growing in a sunny garden next spring but don't get hopes up.