Stevia

[gardener7]

I have stevia anybody else?

 

[NixChicks]

Yes, I grow Stevia in my herb garden. Right now I'm hardening off some to be planted in the ground. I grow it in containers in a sunny window in the winter.

I am a Stevia nut. It's the only sweetener I can use. But the cost is getting prohibitive.

 

[countryatheart]

Wow, I have never heard of anyone ever growing their own Stevia. I do know several people that use it. How did you get it started? Where do you get it?

 

[gardener7]

mine are from bonnie.how do you harvest them?

 

[Reinbeau]

My mother grew it from seed. It isn't hardy around here, however, you have to overwinter it in a greenhouse, and it's very susceptible to white flies.

 

[NixChicks]

I lucked out and found plants at a local nursery and scooped them up fast!

To harvest, strip the leaves from the stalk in fall (BEFORE frost, they can't take ANY frost) and dry the leaves on a screen or net in full sun for about 12 hours. Crush or grind in a coffee grinder. Whala!

For great info go to stevia.net and search for growing stevia. Or just Google "how to grow stevia" and you can get lots of excellent information.

I love my stevia! Its easy to grow. Just doesn't like wet feet or soil that doesn't drain well. Prefers full sun. It doesn't like cool temperatures.

Enjoy.

 

[Texas Fluffy Feet]

I have stevia too. I have it in a pot and have wintered it for the past 2 years in a window sill. I got mine as a plant from Whole Foods but just this year I have seen packets of seeds for the first time. I almost bought some to grow more and I probably still should. I have had no luck with it as a sweetner by using the leaves from my one little plant. I don't think it makes enough to do more than a few cups of tea in a whole year. I am in zone 8 so I may get some seed and try it right in the ground as well as a couple more pots.


Lea

 

[Grow 4 Food]

I saw it at Walmart yesterday in the garden herb section. I will have to check that how to site to see where and how to use it. Looks interesting, I might have to go back after some. (I need more peppers from there anyway)

 

[smom1976]

I just got my stevia.. bonnie plants HAD some but they ran out and have not put anymore in.. I had to search all over town for a week looking for my plants.. I am going to try to green house winter them in the ground..

Place a small green house over them.. we dont get frost for tooo long here in pensacola

 

[Rio_Lindo_AZ]

I just posted this pic in case any of you didn't know what Stevia is :-}

I used to have stevia in my herb garden for about 3 months but then dried up and died.