How to Plant Stevia
Stevia grows best in climates that remain warm year-round, as it cannot tolerate frost and cold weather. It also grows well in pots. As an herb, stevia is used as a non-sugar sweetener. The plant produces steviol glycosides, which are 300 times sweeter than cane sugar, according to Washington State University. Stevia plants are resistant to most insects and diseases, and the only required maintenance is pruning and occasional watering. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Fill a 5- to 6-inch diameter pot two-thirds full with potting soil. Water the soil until the excess moisture begins to drain from the bottom drainage holes.
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Remove the stevia seedling from it's nursery pot. Set it inside the new pot and add or remove soil from beneath the plant until the crown sits 1-½ inches beneath the rim. The crown is the section of the plant where the stems emerge from the root system.
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Fill in the pot with additional soil until the the crown sits just at the soil surface. Water the pot a second time until the excess begins to drain from the bottom.
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Set the pot in a warm, sunny windowsill indoors. In spring, once frost danger is past, move the pot outdoors to sunny area that receives some afternoon shade. Bring the plant back indoors before fall frost.
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Moisten the plant with water when the top 2 inches of potting soil feels dry. Stevia thrives in slightly dry soils but should not be allowed to wilt.
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Pinch off ¼ inch from each stem every two to four weeks when the plant is actively growing in spring and summer. Frequent pinching encourages fuller growth and prevents the plant from becoming leggy.
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Tips & Warnings
Stevia can be grown from seeds, but the plant has such poor germination rates that it is typically available only as a nursery-grown seedling.
Harvest the leaves as needed in spring and summer. Use them fresh or dried as a sweetener. The leaves are sweetest before the plant flowers.
