When to Plant Chia in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Chia guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to May
- Days to harvest
- about 17 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 30 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
Salvia hispanica is chia, a warm-season annual grown for culinary seed. This record does not cover other Salvia species.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Planting Calendar for Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar S/D
- Apr S/T/D
- May T/D
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Chia included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Chia in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Light, sandy to medium well-drained soil
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 30cm apart, 150cm between rows
- Watering
- Water when the soil is dry about 5 cm down, and avoid wetting the leaves. Another supplier says chia only needs water in very dry weather.
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Basil, Borage, Lavender, Calendula
Tropical Growing Tips for Chia
Key Challenges
- Damping Off: Kills young seedlings
- Root and Crown Rot: Plants collapse in wet soil, worst in cool wet months
- Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission
- Two-Spotted Mite: Reduces plant vigour
Pro Tips
- Requires minimal fertiliser; excess nitrogen causes tall foliage growth at the expense of seed production
- Apply a thin layer of organic mulch around young plants to suppress weeds while establishing
- May require staking in windy or exposed positions as plants reach over 1 metre tall
Pests and problems for Chia in Tropical
- Damping Off Use clean seed-raising mix, sow shallowly and avoid overwatering. Watch
- Whitefly Watch
- Powdery Mildew Watch
- Aphids Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission Watch
- Root and Crown Rot Grow in free-draining soil or raised beds and do not overwater. Watch
- Two-Spotted Mite Two-Spotted Mite: Reduces plant vigour Watch
Harvesting Chia
When ready: Most flower petals have fallen and seed heads dry and turn light brown
How to harvest: Cut flower spikes and place in a paper bag to dry, then thresh or shake to release tiny seeds
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Chia
When do you plant chia in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to May
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to May, Aug to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Aug to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May, Aug to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Aug to Nov
Can you grow chia all year round in Cairns?
No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are Mar to May. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Chia in Cairns?
Supplier recommends dry-season sowing, in warm soil. A frost-free growing period is needed for this annual seed crop.
What soil temperature do Chia need?
Chia germinate best when soil temperature is between 18°C and 26°C.
How do I know when Chia are ready to harvest?
Most flower petals have fallen and seed heads dry and turn light brown
What grows well with Chia?
Good companion plants for Chia include: Dwarf Beans, Basil, Borage, Lavender, Calendula.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.