Stevia is a very sweet plant that has zero calories and a glycemic index of zero. This makes it an excellent choice for people who would like to transition away from sugar and other high-glycemic sweeteners. However, since the refinement process in stevia extracts strips away antioxidants and some of the plant’s other healthcare properties it is best to grow your own stevia plants at home and use the whole leaf as a sweetener.
Here is how to grow stevia:
1. Start the seeds in a tray indoors early in the Spring about one month before the last frost. Use 100% organic potting mix and plant the seeds to a depth of ½”. Due to the low germination rate of the seeds you should plant three times the usual number of seeds. Make sure you are getting stevia rebaudiana since this is the only sweet variety.
2. Keep the soil moist. It is best to water from underneath by using a plug tray (with holes) inside a web tray inside a standard flat (without holes.) Keep about ½” of water in the bottom of the standard flat tray.
3. Choose a location in the garden that receives full sun. Prepare the soil with 50% organic compost and 50% peat moss.
4. Stevia prefers warm weather. Transplant the seedlings outdoors several weeks after the last frost. This means sometime in May for most parts of the United States.
5. Set the plants two feet apart.
6. Water regularly and do not allow your stevia plants to dry out.
7. The plants will grow 16” to 24” tall depending upon the temperature. Trim the plants when they reach a height of eight inches tall and again at twelve inches to maximize leaf production.
Raised beds are ideal for stevia since they allow excellent drainage. To increase your supply of stevia plants you can use the stem tips to create new starts by rooting them in trays with moist potting mix.
Use the fresh leaves during the growing season to sweeten tea. The sweetness in the leaves is approximately one-fourth as concentrated as the white, powdered stevia sold at the store. Many people seem to like fresh stevia (or the powdered dried leaves) better than the concentrate, but you should try it for yourself.
Here is how to grow stevia:
1. Start the seeds in a tray indoors early in the Spring about one month before the last frost. Use 100% organic potting mix and plant the seeds to a depth of ½”. Due to the low germination rate of the seeds you should plant three times the usual number of seeds. Make sure you are getting stevia rebaudiana since this is the only sweet variety.
2. Keep the soil moist. It is best to water from underneath by using a plug tray (with holes) inside a web tray inside a standard flat (without holes.) Keep about ½” of water in the bottom of the standard flat tray.
3. Choose a location in the garden that receives full sun. Prepare the soil with 50% organic compost and 50% peat moss.
4. Stevia prefers warm weather. Transplant the seedlings outdoors several weeks after the last frost. This means sometime in May for most parts of the United States.
5. Set the plants two feet apart.6. Water regularly and do not allow your stevia plants to dry out.
7. The plants will grow 16” to 24” tall depending upon the temperature. Trim the plants when they reach a height of eight inches tall and again at twelve inches to maximize leaf production.
Raised beds are ideal for stevia since they allow excellent drainage. To increase your supply of stevia plants you can use the stem tips to create new starts by rooting them in trays with moist potting mix.
Use the fresh leaves during the growing season to sweeten tea. The sweetness in the leaves is approximately one-fourth as concentrated as the white, powdered stevia sold at the store. Many people seem to like fresh stevia (or the powdered dried leaves) better than the concentrate, but you should try it for yourself.
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