How to Grow Stevia

Stevia is an herb that produces all-natural sweetener, which has been used for hundreds of years by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay, and has since been used in various parts of the world. The sweetener is derived from the glycosides in the plant's leaves. There are around 300 species of Stevia plants.

As a still relatively new produce in America, Stevia is a bit controversial, as reports have been published that it can actually help with weightloss, reducing blood sugar in people with Type 2 Diabetes (which, yes, means that people with Diabetes can enjoy sweets once again!), may help lower blood pressure, and may be a natural birth control.

As Stevia (averaging about $10 for 8 oz.) is more expensive than sugar, growing it from seed may be the answer to saving money, and increasing sensationalism for taste buds!

Stevia is easy and inexpensive to grow, and can be grown either indoors or outdoors, which makes growing it even more appealing. Although Stevia is a perennial native to South America (primarily Brazil and Paraguay), people of all climates can enjoy the all-natural sweetener, with the added stress-relieving benefits of gardening.

Best grown with plenty of light and warmth, Stevia can be grown in pots outdoors, and then brought inside, prior to the first frost of the year.

Stevia seeds can be purchased online, and may be available at local health food stores. Try doing an online search to see if they are available close-by. Growing Stevia by seed used to be frowned-upon for beginners, but seeds are now higher quality, and promise higher yields than years prior.

Stevia usually grows to about 2-3 feet tall, and 1-2 feet wide. Therefore, a pot that is approximately 1-2 feet wide would be most suitable. Pots that are about 6-7" deep will allow adequate room for the roots to spread.

Start the seeds in a soilless mix, and and add a bit of water to soften it. Sprinkle the seeds on top. Do not dig and plant the seeds; do not cover the seeds. Instead, gently press down on top of the seeds, pressing them very gently into the mix.

Use a spray bottle to water, lightly misting the plants. Do not over-water the plant, as the roots are susceptible to both frigid temperatures, and excessive moisture.

Once the plant has started to sprout, transplant the seedlings to a potting mix used for other garden-variety plants.

Stevia thrives best in mild temperatures - around 70 degrees, and about 8-12 hours of sunlight a day. If that amount of sunlight is not possible, using plant light bulbs, or warm florescent lights is perfectly acceptable.

To ensure that the plant is lush and full, try to pinch the tips every few weeks. Try to wait as long as possible to harvest the plant, as cooler, shorter days, tends to increase the sweetness of the leaves. If not ready to harvest by the first frost, simply cover the plant. It should remain in good condition for another couple of weeks. If growing in a mild climate, the plant may survive the entire winter.

If growing indoors, harvesting a bit when the plant is still small is okay, but is only recommended be done by taking a few leaves at a time.

To harvest the Stevia, cut each stem, so that about 4" of stem remains for regrowth, or simply remove each leaf individually.

Stevia is safe to eat raw, and can be used (whole leaves) to make herbal tea.

If using for cooking, dry the leaves. There are a few ways to dry Stevia leaves:

• Use a food dehydrator
• Use the oven, using low heat
• On a cookie sheet or tray, in a dry, desolate location, for a few days
• Leave in direct sunlight until dry (may take hours), on a net or a screen

Heat is not as important in drying the leaves as good air circulation is.

Once the leaves are dry, they should be crushed for use. This can be done by hand, or by using a coffee grinder or other grinder (like one used for herbal tea).

To make Stevia extract, add warm water (about a cup) to 1/4 cup of fresh ground leaves. Let the mixture sit for a day or so, and then refrigerate.

Many tests are still being conducted in the US, as to side effects and possible medical uses for Stevia, but tests have already concluded that dried Stevia leaves are actually about 10-15 times sweeter than sugar, and contains no calories, which proves less really is more!

Stevia can certainly be used to replace sugar and other sweeteners. The only issue that has been found doing research for this hub and in using Stevia, is that it does not caramelize like sugar does, and sometimes adds a green tint to mixtures when baking. However, browning or caramelizing sugar has been known to create carcinogens, which scientists have been unable to identify in Stevia.

Otherwise, being able to save money by growing it, and being able to use less when baking, is a win-win indeed!