How to grow Stevia

Find out how to grow this beautiful flowering plant in your garden with this handy guide. Includes tips on planting, feeding, harvesting and pest control. 

Stevia prefers well draining soil, enriched with compost.

 Plant Stevia in a full sun to afternoon shade position. 

Stevia will tolerate light frosts, although will die back in winter and re-shoot in spring. 

Plant Stevia roughly 40cm apart. 

Plant out in spring once the danger of frost has passed. If sowing seeds, sow indoors in late winter and transplant in spring, or direct sow in spring once temperatures have warmed to roughly 20°C. 

If transplanting, plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn.  

Stevia is not a heavy feeder and will generally grow well in good quality soil without the need for too much additional fertiliser. 

Topping up the soil with new compost each spring is beneficial. An application of organic fertiliser in spring is generally sufficient, although you can also apply again in early summer for an additional boost.

Harvest the Stevia leaves by cutting stems from the top down as needed (no more than 1/3 of the stem at one time). Regular harvesting will delay flowering and prolong harvest time. 

Pests that affect Stevia include: Spider Mites, Aphids, Slugs, Snail, Thrips, Flea Beetles. 

Diseases that affect Stevia include: Rust, Alternaria Leaf Spot, Botrytis, Root Rot, Septoria Leaf Spot.