Stevia

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by Mungbeans, Apr 6, 2006.

  1. Mungbeans

    Mungbeans Junior Member

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    I was just going through the Diggers catalogue deciding what to put in my herb garden come spring, and came across this plant. Its leaves are dried and ground up to make a natural sweetener which is 300 sweeter than sugar.

    A website I found also suggests it makes a great companion plant as it repells aphids, probably because of its sweetness.

    Has anyone here had any luck growing this from seeds?
     
  2. ho-hum

    ho-hum New Member

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    Spunky,

    Late last year I got some Stevia seed to try and had nil germination. I treated them the same as anything else I have ever grown from seed and no luck.

    Would love to be able to tell you a success story. I will persevere though as it looks like a great addition to any garden.


    Cheers

    Floot
     
  3. RobWindt

    RobWindt Junior Member

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  4. dpalmer

    dpalmer Guest

    I purchased a good-sized Stevia seedling the other day from CERES nursery in Melbourne ($5.50). A few little suckers were coming up so I put them in fresh pots and they have survived just fine. I also have a cutting that seems to have struck also. I have it in our green house and it has grown enormously sinse I got it.

    Dan Palmer.
     
  5. FREE Permaculture

    FREE Permaculture Junior Member

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    I was just about to purchase stevia myself yesyterday,
    in melb' aswell at the swish poyntons nursery.
    geez they have every herb as seedlings quite advanced
    I tried a piece of it and yep it was sweet alright, then i got distracted as i saw very nice seedlings of borage and went nuts and forgot.

    Gonna go back tomorrow and get a couple punnets, might be able to send some if anyone wants a bit to start with?
     
  6. ho-hum

    ho-hum New Member

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    Rob,

    Interestingly, I live in the tropics.. we have 26c nights and 31c days. The sort of climate that will germinate most seeds, regardless of preferred zone.

    The stevia didnt work. Thanks for your comment about plant requirements, i wont surrender. Just maybe find another supplier.

    Thanks for those folk who are having some success, I will persevere.

    cheers

    Floot
     
  7. Gruun

    Gruun Junior Member

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    ive tried the aforementioned diggers stevia. one out of the lot came up.
    it sure was a sweetie though.
    im hoping its going to go weedy at my place. ive read its a potential weed.
    mmm weedy...
     
  8. barely run

    barely run Junior Member

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    Bought a pkt dried stevia leaf at a markets last week....anyone actually used this stuff. I tried the Stevia commercial sweeter tablets but they still have that icky aftertaste.
    Cathy
     
  9. kathleenmc

    kathleenmc Junior Member

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    stevia

    Hi permies.....

    Used the stevia leaves as a way to ease my sweet tooth cravings. You only need a tiny amount to satisfy you, not at all like the huge amounts of sugar we are used to indulging in. I would recommend some experimenting with it as there was not much literature for me to find on it's proper uses. ...but easy does it is my recommendation.
     
  10. Michaelangelica

    Michaelangelica Junior Member

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    stevia

    Stevia must have light to germinate.
    Keep it on top of your seed-raising mix- don't cover it.
    My plant is just starting to set seed now.
     

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