Most people probably think that Stevia is just a brand name, for sweetner. Well, it is actually a plant, classified as a herb. Just like other herbs we have grown such as coriander and french tarragon. So today, we will take a look at how to grow stevia.

Did you know that some Stevia plants can be as much as fifteen times sweeter than cane sugar? You want to grow your own, as it has a more natural taste than the chemically treated store version. It has also been found to possess other health benefits which include regulating blood pressure as well as acting as an anti-bacterial agent.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• stevia cuttings
• compost
• food dehdyrator
• air tight container

It is very difficult to germinate stevia seeds, so it is recommended that you propagate it from cuttings. Try using cuttings from known sweet plants only, plant in neutral PH light sandy soil. Lay down some compost before planting your seedlings at least 18 inches apart after the last frost in early Spring.

Generally plants grow to about 2 and a half feet tall. Harvesting usually occurs in the Fall, which is when you collect the leaves. They can be dried either using the sun or a dehydrator. The dry leaves will crack when they are ready and can be stored in air tight containers. They can be crushed and used for baking or making a syrup. Leaves can also be used fresh.

You can get more information on the Herb Gardener blog, here…

How To Grow Stevia

You can watch the video below on how to grow stevia…

You can watch the video below on taking Stevia cuttings…

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