Stevia
Stevia is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Syn. Sweet Leaf; Stevia originated in South America where it was widely used as a sugar substitute. Stevioside, the chemical which is extracted from the leaves of the plant, is said to be 300 times sweeter than sugar but contains no calories. The leaves can be dried and used in cooking or made into a syrup.
Product: Stevia
Product type: SEED ()
Botanical name: Stevia rebaudiana
Syn. Sweet Leaf; Stevia originated in South America where it was widely used as a sugar substitute. Stevioside, the chemical which is extracted from the leaves of the plant, is said to be 300 times sweeter than sugar but contains no calories. The leaves can be dried and used in cooking or made into a syrup.
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial up to 1 m high
Sow when: Germinate best at 22°C soil temp
Temperate: September - December
Subtropical: Spring and autumn
Tropical: Unlikely to do well
Germination: 7 - 14 days; seedlings grow slowly, so allow 7 to 8 weeks from seed to transplanting
Depth: Cover seed lightly and firm down
Position: Full sun
Sow where: Sow into seedling trays filled with moist seed raising mix
Soil type: Fertile, well-drained soil pH 5 - 7.5
Details: Cuttings strike very readily over summer; keep moist until established
Harvest: Harvest before flowering occurs in late summer and dry upside down in bunches