How to grow stevia at home

Picture: sugarfreestevia.net

Growing of Stevia plants is not an easy task. But once you get your stevia started, it's one of the simplest herbs to grow. It has a reputation for repelling insects, which is great for your organic garden.

If you are growing stevia for the first time keep in mind that it does well in containers. If you are planning to grow it inside, surface sow seed 8 weeks before the last frost date.
Ensure that the last frost is past and soil temperatures are in the 60 degree F range before planting your stevia in the ground. Stevia plants pout in cold soil.
Stevia needs sandy loam or rich loamy soil. It also needs full sun.

Buy starter plants

It would be difficult, at best, to start a stevia patch from scratch — that is, by planting seeds. Even if you could get them to germinate, results might well prove disappointing, since stevioside levels can vary greatly in plants grown from seed. The recommended method is rather to buy garden-ready ‘starter’ plants, which given stevia’s ‘growing’ popularity, may well be obtainable from a nursery or herbalist in your area. Prepare beds by digging deeply in well-drained soil. Add a lot of compost or manure, and a handful of complete organic fertilizer for each plant.


Mature plants reach 2 ½ feet and spread 2 feet, so plant at least 2 feet apart and leave 2 feet between rows. Stevia prefers full-sun or partially shaded areas. Plant seedlings and root divisions after last frost, 1m (2 to 3 feet) apart in rows 2.5 to 3 feet apart.

Some people have even been successful growing stevia indoors. To do this, you will need a pot with a one foot diameter and plenty of potting soil. When you plant the seedling, cover the potting soil with glass marbles, mulch, or something else that will help keep the stevia plant moist.

More sweeteness

Liquid and powder stevia most frequently have an 80 or 90 percent stevioside level while homegrown stevia is much lower at 10-12 percent.
For more sweetness:
Grow Stevia in the full sun outdoors or in a sunny spot in a pot indoors.
Give it frequent light watering during the summer months
Harvest stevia leaves as late as possible before the first frost, so that stevoside levels reach their maximum concentration. Most experts recommend waiting until the fall to harvest stevia. The cool temperatures intensify the sweetness. Don’t harvest until the third year. Harvest over a 2-3 week period. When you harvest stevia, it is recommended to do so in the morning.

After harvest

Harvest Stevia leaves and dry them on a screen; keep in full sun for 12 hours. You can also dry the Stevia plants by handing them upside down in a sunny location.

To make liquid Stevia, mix warm water with the dry crushed leaves. Use 1 cup of warm water for every 1/4 cup of crushed Stevia leaves. Let sit for 24 hours before refrigerating.
Store in the refrigerator wrapped in a damp paper towel.
It can be used as a ground powder or liquid in baking or in desserts.