How to Grow Stevia
Stevia Rebudiana
Looking for a natural sugar substitute!? The Stevia herb plant is your answer.
Grown for its sweet leaves, Stevia is calorie free and carb-free. It doesn't
impact blood sugar. Stevia leaves can be as much as 300 times sweeter than
sucrose(sugar).
Native to sub-tropical regions of Peru and Brazil, Stevia is a perennial.
It is susceptible to frost, so it is grown as an annual in many areas.
Stevia are good container plants. You can then move them indoors as a houseplant
in the fall. Just make sure to do so before the first frost.
Propagation:
Stevia are grown from seed. Start seeds indoors, about 8 weeks before the
last frost in your area. The seeds are hard to germinate. Germination
rates can be low. It is suggested that darker(more mature) seeds are more
likely to sprout.
Seeds sprout best at 65 degree soil temperature, or a little higher. We highly
recommend the use of germination mats.
Many growers start plants from cuttings. If you are in a warm weather area
and grow them as a perennial, growng them from cuttings is far easier than
trying to sprout the seeds.
How to Grow Stevia Plants:
Transplant Stevia into your herb garden after the last frost in your area.
Space plants 6" -8" apart, in rows two feet apart.
Stevia plants prefer warm, but not hot weather. They grow well in full sun
to partial shade.
Plants grow best in light sandy or loamy soils that are well drained. They
do not like wet soils.
Do not use a lot of nitrogen fertilizer. Your plants will do well, if you
add compost or mulch on top of the soil. This will feed your plants slowly.
While the plants do not like wet soils, they do not like dry soils, either.
Keep soil moist, not wet. Mulching plants will help to retain good moisture
levels.
Harvesting and Drying Stevia leaves:
You can harvest Stevia leaves as soon as there is enough to use. Pick leaves
in the morning, when sweetness is at its maximum.
Pick leaves before the plant begins to flower, as the leaves then turn bitter.
Pinching off flower blooms, as soon as they begin to appear, will prolong
the harvest.
Harvest the entire plant in the fall before the first frost. Hang plants
upside down to dry, in a well venitilated area. After they are dry, remove
the leaves. You can also use the tender, young growing tips.
Use a coffee grinder to powder the dried leaves. Store powdered leaves in
an air-tight container.
Main Cooking Uses:
Stevia leaves can be used raw or cooked. Try it as a natural sugar substitute
in your favorite recipes.
In addition to using the dried, powdered leaves, the green leaves can be
put in water. The sweetened water is then used in recipes.
Try stevia in teas, too.
Insects and Disease:
Stevia plants have few insect problems. Rather, it has insect repelling
qualities.
Medicinal Uses:
For Diabetics, Stevia may help. Medical research suggests Stevia leaves help
to nourish and balance the pancreas (which produces insulin). Contact your
physician for further information before beginning to use it.
Stevia is also claimed to help reduce tooth decay. That's because it is a
sugar substitute.
More Information:
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