Growing and harvesting stevia is a rewarding hobby for home gardeners. This bushy, perennial herb has leaves that are sweeter than sugar. To keep my stevia plants healthy and full of leaves, I follow some important care tips.
I start stevia plants from seed indoors, 10 weeks before the last frost. This gives them a strong start before they go outside. Stevia likes rich, well-draining soil and full sun.
Keeping stevia plants moist is key, but I don’t overwater them. Trimming and pruning help them grow bushy and produce more leaves. I only cut off one-third of the plant at a time to help it recover.
By harvesting and caring for my stevia plants correctly, I get a steady supply of this sweetener. With a little effort, stevia becomes a valuable part of any garden.
Understanding Stevia: A Sweet Perennial Herb
Stevia is a special herb that has been around for centuries in South America. It’s a natural sweetener that’s up to 15 times sweeter than sugar but has no calories or health risks. Growing your own stevia lets you enjoy its many benefits.
What is Stevia?
Stevia is a tender perennial plant that does well in warm places. It can survive winters in zones 9 and above. Gardeners in zone 8 can keep stevia alive through winter with the right care.
The sweetness of stevia comes from compounds in its leaves. These plants can grow up to 2.5 feet tall and produce small white flowers in the fall. But the leaves are tastiest and sweetest before they bloom, so harvest them in autumn.
Benefits of Growing Your Own Stevia
Homegrown stevia is full of antioxidants and doesn’t affect blood pressure or insulin levels like sugar does. Studies show it can help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and colds and flu.
It’s easy to grow your own stevia at home. It likes well-drained soil with a pH between 6.7 and 7.2. With about 18 inches of space between plants, a 12-inch pot with full sun can give you a big harvest.
Dried stevia leaves are very potent – just 1/8 teaspoon is as sweet as 1 teaspoon of sugar. This makes homegrown stevia a great, healthier choice instead of processed sugar substitutes.
Planting and Growing Stevia
Stevia is a great herb to grow at home. You can start it from seeds or move seedlings. With the right care, you’ll get a lot of this sweet herb.
Starting Stevia from Seeds
Start stevia seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost. They germinate in 21 days if kept moist and warm. Once they’re big enough, move them to pots and keep them indoors until it gets warm at night.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Stevia
Stevia likes rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5-7.5. It needs full sun but can handle some afternoon shade. Plant them 18 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart for best growth. It also does well in containers, perfect for indoor growing all year.
Keep the soil moist but not too wet. Feed them with a balanced, organic fertilizer every few weeks in the growing season. With the right care, you’ll have plenty of stevia soon.
“Stevia is a naturally super-sweet herb native to South America, providing sweetness without calories.”
Pruning and Trimming Stevia Plants
Maintaining a thriving stevia plant needs a bit of care, especially with pruning and trimming. To encourage bushy growth and a steady harvest, prune your plants often. Let’s explore how to trim stevia plants right.
When your stevia plants hit about 8 inches tall, it’s time to prune. Cutting them back makes them spread out more, leading to a fuller plant. This means more leaves for you. Also, take out any flower buds as they show up to keep the plant focused on making leaves.
Prune your stevia every 4-6 weeks when it’s warm. This keeps your plants full of tasty leaves all season. Always use sharp, clean tools for cutting to avoid diseases.
Pruning also boosts air flow around the leaves and stems. This lowers the chance of rot and pests, keeping your plants healthy. With regular care, you’ll get a lot of sweet stevia leaves all season.
“2 tablespoons of homemade Stevia powder can sweeten like a whole cup of sugar, showcasing the potency of the pruned leaves.”
how to harvest stevia so it keeps growing
Proper Harvesting Techniques
Harvesting your stevia correctly is key to keeping it healthy and productive. You can take leaves one by one or cut whole stems. But, never take more than one-third of the plant at once. This keeps the plant strong and helps it keep growing.
For the sweetest leaves, harvest before the plant flowers. Flowering makes the leaves taste bitter. Harvesting in autumn, when it’s cooler, gives you the best flavor.
Timing Your Stevia Harvest
Stevia is a tough perennial herb, but harvesting right keeps it thriving. Harvest in the morning for the sweetest leaves. Don’t harvest in the heat of the day to avoid stressing the plant.
For ongoing harvests, cut your stevia at different times during the season. This lets the plant recover and grow new, tasty leaves. Always leave at least 4 inches of stem at the base to help the plant come back strong next season.
“Stevia has been used for some 1500 years by the Guarani people of Brazil and Paraguay, who recognized its sweetness and valued it as a natural, low-calorie alternative to sugar.”
Preserving and Using Harvested Stevia
After harvesting your stevia, it’s important to preserve it for later use. There are several ways to do this, each with its own benefits.
Drying and Powdering Stevia Leaves
Drying stevia leaves is a simple way to keep them. You can hang the stems upside down in a dry area or spread the leaves on a screen outside. Once dry, crush the leaves or grind them into powder with a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.
This powder can sweeten your drinks, foods, and baked goods. Use about 1/8 teaspoon to replace 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Making Stevia Extract and Tincture
Creating a stevia extract or tincture is another way to preserve it. To make extract, steep crushed stevia leaves in hot water for 40 minutes. Then, strain the mixture and keep the liquid in a dark jar in the fridge.
This extract can sweeten drinks like tea or smoothies. It’s as sweet as 3 cups of sugar with just 3/4 cup of extract.
For a tincture, use fresh stevia leaves and soak them in rum or vodka. Heat it until it becomes syrupy. Store this tincture in a dark bottle for up to 3 months.
“Stevia plants contain steviol glycerides, which are 300 times sweeter than sucrose, providing sweetness without any calories.”
Whether you dry, powder, extract, or tincture your stevia, keep it fresh and flavorful. With a bit of care and creativity, you can enjoy your homegrown stevia for months.
Overwintering and Regrowing Stevia
As winter comes, it’s key to take good care of your stevia plants. They will die back in the cold but their roots can survive. This means you can regrow them in the spring.
Here’s how to help your stevia plants survive the winter:
- Bring container-grown stevia indoors. Before the first frost, move your potted stevia plants to bigger containers with fresh soil. Put them in a sunny spot indoors, like a window or under grow lights.
- Mulch in-ground stevia plants. For stevia in your garden, cover the base with organic mulch. This keeps the roots warm and safe from the cold.
With the right overwintering care, your stevia plants will regrow in the spring. As it gets warmer, new leaves will grow from the roots. Then, you can take care of them like before. Soon, you’ll have plenty of fresh, sweet stevia leaves to enjoy.
“Stevia is attracting attention in the United States as a healthier low-calorie sweetener.”
Conclusion
Growing and harvesting my own stevia is very rewarding. It lets me enjoy this amazing, natural sweetener all year. By learning how to plant, care for, and preserve my stevia plants, I always have a steady supply. This sweetener is calorie-free and about 200-300 times sweeter than sugar.
I can grow stevia in my garden or in pots. It’s a low-maintenance herb that does well with the right amount of light, temperature, and nutrients. Regular pruning and trimming help my plants grow well and keep the leaves sweet.
Stevia is incredibly versatile as a sweetener. I can dry and powder the leaves or make homemade extracts and tinctures. This lets me use this healthy, homegrown sweetener in my cooking and baking. With the right care, my stevia plants will keep giving me sweet treats for many years.
FAQ
How do I harvest stevia so it keeps growing?
To keep your stevia plant growing, cut off no more than one-third of the leaves at a time. Don’t take too much to avoid harming the plant. Harvest before it flowers to keep the leaves sweet.
What are the ideal growing conditions for stevia?
Stevia likes rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5-7.5. It needs full sun but can handle some afternoon shade. Keep the soil moist, but don’t overwater.
How do I prune and trim my stevia plants?
Pruning stevia makes it bushy and encourages more leaves. Cut back plants when they get 8 inches tall. Remove flower buds to keep the plant focused on leaves.
When is the best time to harvest stevia leaves?
Harvest stevia leaves before they flower for the sweetest taste. Autumn is a great time to pick, when it’s cooler.
How do I preserve my stevia harvest?
You can dry stevia leaves by hanging them in a dry room or on a screen outside. Once dry, crush them by hand or use a grinder for powder.
How do I overwinter and regrow my stevia plants?
In cold areas, stevia dies back in winter but its roots survive. It will regrow in spring. Move container plants indoors before frost, or mulch in-ground plants to protect the roots.