Growing stevia tips

Be careful not to over-water as the roots are near the surface and may start to rot. Keep the soil moist.

Plant 12 to 18 inches apart.
Rows of 1 to 2 feet apart.
Optimum depth 30 millimeters.(1/8 inch).
Germination time 1 to 2 weeks.

It it a good idea to plant stevia in a raised garden bed of about 4 to 6 inches high to naturally drain away excess water.

The plants like 14 – 16 hours of sunlight. However, not too strong sun during summer. They need to be protected from the harsh sun similar to the treatment of a vegetable crop. Partial shade during these times is recommended.

Stevia plants do not tolerate frost. When growing stevia they need to be planted two weeks after any risk of frost. They will survive outdoor winters only where it is warm enough for citrus plants to survive. They will survive and grow indoors at this time.

Another recommendation is to grow the seeds indoors and transplant them into the field when they are about 6 – 7 weeks old.

Stevia is a sub tropical tender perennial (lasting or active through the year or through many years).
It is generally treated as an annual.
When growing stevia some people say that stevia is difficult to grow, while others say the opposite.

The starting point to increasing your chances for success is to obtain black or dark brown seeds. The tan or white seeds are either missing the embryo or have a very low germination success rate.
A recommended source to obtain good quality seeds is from www.steviaseed.com.

Stevia propagates easily from plant cuttings. If they are not available from your local garden centre, they can be purchased on-line.

Harvesting the plant should be done after the appearance of its flower buds, in late summer, early autumn. After the appearance of these buds the plant will not produce any more leaves. If the buds are not cut off and flowers appear they will give the leaves a bitter / dirty taste. Cutting off the flower heads does prove effect as it does with most other herbs.

If you would like to obtain a regrowth from the same plant, cut it off at the stem about 6 inches from the ground(Shock 1982). Or leave one third of the foliage.

Harvest the leaves in early morning after dew has dried. Hang the leaves in batches upside down in a warm, dark aired environment for two to four days. After this the leaves can be ground into a powder using an electric coffee grinder.

The stems have no value, throw them into your compost heap.

The leaves can also be eaten raw as a vegetable.

They are good companion plants as they repel insects.

Plant in protected area as the branches are fragile.

Stevia's botanical name is Rebaudiana Bertoni.
It is a shrub in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) that grows to about 1 meter tall.(3ft).

Native to North Eastern Paraguay and adjacent sections of Brazil in South America, where the Native Guarani Indians have used it for over 1500 years as a sweetener, a digestive aid, a tonic and as a topical aid in wound healing.

This herb is commonly known as sweet leaf or sugarleaf which is widely grown for its sweet leaves, as a sugar substitute. It's taste is sweet and refreshing with a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, although some of its extracts may have a bitter or licorice like aftertaste at high concentrations. Read more.

Learn more about this popular indoor herb garden - click here.

Link for Australian residents www.aerogarden.com.au

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