Growing Stevia - Sweetener alternatives

[Guest guest]

So you keep it in a pot? If yes, what diameter. I think I'm going to do this - I've needed the push for a while and now after reading yours and 's posts, I'm ready to do this. I just looked up my zone here: http://www.garden.org/zipzone/ and I'm in 9B.

Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))><

On Dec 28, 2011, at 12:45 AM, sjc wrote:

On 12/27/2011 9:23 PM, Berry wrote:

> dehydrate and powder the leaves

This is the way I use it too. I started because it's cheaper that way

but quickly found out that it's more palatable, too. Truth be told,

though, I'm not much of a sweets eater so that makes it easy to skip the

sweetener altogether.

Seeds are available many places now but I don't see many

seedlings/potted plants for sale. Look at your local organic growers,

or if they don't have it ask for it and likely they will start some. It

is a little testy to sprout but you only need one plant (actually, my

plant 'serves' 3 people) so if the whole package doesn't sprout you

still win as long as you get one. Seed is expensive or was when I got

mine, there were a dozen or so seeds in it, though, and I got 8 babies,

gave 6 away and after mine got going, gave one more away. Has to stay

indoors in winter; I'm in zone 4, though, so you southerners may get

away with leaving it outside.

SJ

[Guest guest]

On 12/28/2011 7:41 AM, Lea Ann Savage wrote:

> So you keep it in a pot? If yes, what diameter.

I quickly found out when I first started growing stevia that not all

seeds will produce a plant with the desired very-sweet results, so if

you're doing seed, ascertain which plants will make the grade. The

rest go to the compost heap. Then I grew the young ones on into about

an 8 " pot.

But now I reproduce by cuttings, so I know what I'm getting. We kept a

couple plants in the greenhouse for a while (4/5 yrs) and they were in I

think probably 12 " containers. What we found out though is that

longevity is not necessarily a good thing in stevia, or at least not

under our circumstances; it got woody and less productive as time went

by. We've since grown from cuttings, leaving the plants outdoors after

all chance of frost and bringing them in when days shorten noticeably in

about late August. They don't take frost at all but as the days shorten

and weather cools the leaves become much sweeter. Roots stay near the

surface of the soil and they don't appreciate being soggy or dry so put

the plant (whether in the ground or pot) where you will be able to keep

tabs on it's moisture level. We put them in full sun here, don't know

how much they'd tolerate where it gets really hot, but they are tropical

plants....

We take cuttings first, then on remaining plant clip all leaves and very

small stems, and the rest goes to the compost pile. Cuttings I pot up

in 3 " pots and I take several as they aren't the wildest starters. I

keep them evenly moist until they take. Neighbor uses rooting hormone

and says it helps but I keep a certified organic (and I " m not talking

about USDA faux-certification) place here so that stays at bay; it might

be permissible but I've never asked--have enough stuff to keep track of

now--but if you have some about, give it a go.

It wants a fairly loose soil, well drained. I feed only compost around

here and the stevia gets it's dose same as everything else. Don't think

I'd use any high-nitrogen stuff on it, what you are after is

concentration in the leaves, not necessarily more or bigger leaves.

I dry the leaves same as anything else I dry and when thoroughly dry I

put them into airtight glass jar/s until I get ready to deal with them;

I just jam 'em in. Then when I'm doing the herbs for the year I grind

the leaves in small batches, in what amounts to a large coffee grinder.

You want a mask for such work, for sure. I work in a smallish room with

the windows open on a not-windy but breezy day to help get the dusty

stuff moving, since I typically have a dozen or so things I'm powdering

at the time (other herbs/seeds that I want for kitchen seasonings mostly).

There will be an appalling small amount for the amount of time you had

to think about the little buggers all year, but once you really " get "

how little you'll need, you realize you have plenty. Just don't set it

on the worktable without a cover then bang it with your elbow; when I

did that I had just been grinding rosemary so when I carefully scooped

my stevia powder up it was somewhat rosemary-ized, not the best way to

use it. Now my gig is to have my container ready and I empty straight

from the grinder into it and put the lid on. Kids razz me about the

grinding room looking like a lab but I notice they still come back here

for their herbs. :-)

That's all I think of at the moment. I have seen a couple of books on

growing stevia at the coop: I didn't look closely at them since I'd

already passed the point at which I was willing to pay $$ for that info,

but they are out there.

SJ

[Guest guest]

I am in 8B and I have grown stevia in a raised bed and in a pot too. I used a 8 inch pot and it grew fine. Then you can dry the leaves and store for future use.So sweet, right off the plant! In His Grace…Robbie From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Lea Ann SavageSent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 6:42 AM Subject: Growing Stevia - Sweetener alternatives So you keep it in a pot? If yes, what diameter. I think I'm going to do this - I've needed the push for a while and now after reading yours and 's posts, I'm ready to do this. I just looked up my zone here: http://www.garden.org/zipzone/ and I'm in 9B. Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))>< On Dec 28, 2011, at 12:45 AM, sjc wrote: On 12/27/2011 9:23 PM, Berry wrote:> dehydrate and powder the leavesThis is the way I use it too. I started because it's cheaper that way but quickly found out that it's more palatable, too. Truth be told, though, I'm not much of a sweets eater so that makes it easy to skip the sweetener altogether.Seeds are available many places now but I don't see many seedlings/potted plants for sale. Look at your local organic growers, or if they don't have it ask for it and likely they will start some. It is a little testy to sprout but you only need one plant (actually, my plant 'serves' 3 people) so if the whole package doesn't sprout you still win as long as you get one. Seed is expensive or was when I got mine, there were a dozen or so seeds in it, though, and I got 8 babies, gave 6 away and after mine got going, gave one more away. Has to stay indoors in winter; I'm in zone 4, though, so you southerners may get away with leaving it outside.SJ

[Guest guest]

http://www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi?product=X6030 & show=all & prodclass= & cart_id=2142113.8799 I purchase plants from Richters all the time and find that their quality is terrific. Also Tom, you are always going to find that Mayo clinic and other medical resources can’t recommend herbs. As an herbalist, I’ve not found any interactions with stevia. I don’t like to use Truvia because it is filled with other chemicals – not too dissimilar from other alternative sweetners. Liquid stevia Bonnie www.bonniesherbals.com“creating radiance with herbs and water” http://www.facebook.com/RadiantHealthforLifehttp://www.twitter.com/_RadiantHealthhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnierogersComing soon: we are rebranding, our new name will be www.RadiantHealthforLife.com.com From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Lea Ann SavageSent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 7:42 AM Subject: Growing Stevia - Sweetener alternatives So you keep it in a pot? If yes, what diameter. I think I'm going to do this - I've needed the push for a while and now after reading yours and 's posts, I'm ready to do this. I just looked up my zone here: http://www.garden.org/zipzone/ and I'm in 9B. Blessings,Lea Ann SavageSatellite Beach, FL(321) 773-7088 (home)(321-961-9219 (cell)))><'>www.VitamixLady.comwww..com<))>< On Dec 28, 2011, at 12:45 AM, sjc wrote: On 12/27/2011 9:23 PM, Berry wrote:> dehydrate and powder the leavesThis is the way I use it too. I started because it's cheaper that way but quickly found out that it's more palatable, too. Truth be told, though, I'm not much of a sweets eater so that makes it easy to skip the sweetener altogether.Seeds are available many places now but I don't see many seedlings/potted plants for sale. Look at your local organic growers, or if they don't have it ask for it and likely they will start some. It is a little testy to sprout but you only need one plant (actually, my plant 'serves' 3 people) so if the whole package doesn't sprout you still win as long as you get one. Seed is expensive or was when I got mine, there were a dozen or so seeds in it, though, and I got 8 babies, gave 6 away and after mine got going, gave one more away. Has to stay indoors in winter; I'm in zone 4, though, so you southerners may get away with leaving it outside.SJ