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Herbs

Stevia

Sweet Leaf

Fresh or dried leaves are an herbal alternative to sugar and up to 30 times sweeter! Bushy, high-yielding plants.

The food and beverage industry is abuzz with news of this safe alternative to artificial sweeteners - now home gardeners can produce their own! The incredibly sweet leaves of this South American native are an herbal alternative to sugar and are up to 30 times sweeter. Each bushy, high-yielding plant yields up to a 1/2 lb. (227 g) of dried leaves. Also useful fresh.

Height: 18-30in (45-75cm)

Stevia plants do best in full sun and a rich, loamy soil.  Wait to plant Stevia until the soil is warm.  Plant at the same level as the soil in the pot.

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Water only when needed being careful not to overwater.  Use a lower Nitrogen fertilizer. 

Harvesting should be done as late as possible, since cool autumn temperatures and shorter days tend to intensify the sweetness of the plants.