How do I grow stevia?
Quick Guide to Growing Stevia Space stevia plants 18 inches apart or plant them in 12-inch containers. Grow this sun-loving plant in an area that gets plenty of light and has rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.7 to 7.2. Feed regularly with a water-soluble plant food to promote healthy leaf production.
Is stevia hard to grow?
Stevia is not as easy to grow as most culinary herbs, but it has been successfully grown in climates ranging from southern Canada to the American South. Stevia is hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 11 and up, and does best in semi-humid locations with acidic, well-draining soil.
Is growing stevia easy?
Stevia is an easy-to-grow herb that is hardy zones 8-11 and will be happy in a container, making it easy to bring it indoors for the winter in cold climates. Provide full sun, well-drained soil and even moisture until the plant is fully established. Once it is, stevia is a low maintenance plant.
Is it easy to grow stevia from seed?
Sow stevia seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost in spring. Sow double or triple the amount of seed you usually would for other plants as the germination rate can be lower than for other seed varieties. Seedlings emerge in 14-21 days.
Can I grow my own stevia?
Growing stevia is easy in well-drained beds or large containers, and the leaves can be dried for winter use like any other herb. Stevia grows best in warm conditions similar to those preferred by basil. Stevia can be started from seed indoors in late winter, but it’s best to grow it from rooted cuttings.
Does stevia come back every year?
Stevia is a tender perennial grown as a vegetatively propagated annual. Parent plants brought through winter indoors provide rootable stems in spring.
How long does it take to grow stevia from seed?
Sow stevia seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost in spring. Sow seeds ΒΌ inches deep in seed-starting formula. Sow double or triple the amount of seed you usually would for other plants as the germination rate can be lower than for other seed varieties. Seedlings emerge in 14-21 days.
When to harvest stevia plant?
Cut the stevia stems from the plants with the pruning shears in late summer or early autumn. For best results, harvest the stevia before the first frost of autumn or when the stevia plant begins to blossom. Cut the entire plant down to just above the soil level if you are growing stevia as an annual plant.
What are the medicinal properties of stevia plant?
Clinical Overview. Stevia and its extracts contain sweetening constituents known as steviol glycosides that have been evaluated for their antioxidant,antidiabetic,antimicrobial,and antihypertensive effects.
Where to find stevia plant?
Stevia is cultivated mostly in Paraguay, Kenya, China and the United States, and within many other parts of the world, including Vietnam, Brazil, India, Argentina and Colombia.Steviol glycosides can be up to 400 times sweeter than sugar. The sweet components of the stevia plant can be found in the stevia leaf.