Stevia is a he althy sugar substitute that has now also been approved in Germany. But not only that: You can now also grow stevia yourself. Read how to do this here.
Since the South American stevia was approved as a sugar substitute in Germany, the demand for the calorie-free sugar plant has also increased enormously. In the meantime, some nurseries even have stevia plants ready, which can be planted and cared for without any problems even in our latitudes. We'll tell you exactly how to do that here.
Select location
The perennial stevia plants love it sunny, warm and bright. Which is why they are also ideal as a container plant on balconies and terraces. Of course, you can also set up the plants in conservatories or plant them in the greenhouse all year round.
Otherwise you should put the stevia plants in the garden from June. There you have to dig them up again in autumn and overwinter in a frost-free room. Basically, the plants thrive far more luxuriantly outdoors than in the pots adapted for Stevia plants.
» Tip:
Small stevia plants - like kitchen herbs - thrive very well on a sunny windowsill. (Link tip: growing herbs on the windowsill - this is how it's done)
Care for Stevia plants
Stevia plants like it moist, but waterlogging is not ideal for the plants, as root rot can then occur. A constant alternation between wet and dry is ideal, whereby the growth of the plant is optimal.
» Tip:
In the winter months you should definitely let the plant rest (little light), so allow it a kind of recovery phase and only water moderately if absolutely necessary.
During this so-called vegetation break, the plant visually almost dies, which is why you can cut the plant back to around 5 centimeters. In the coming spring (from around March, when the plant is in a sunny window seat), it will of course wake up from this hibernation if it is cared for properly. This resting phase has the advantage that the plant is then less susceptible to disease than when it waswears a green dress all year round.
Harvest Stevia
Stevia is harvested in a similar way to basil, so only pinch off the so-called shoot tips. Then you should either add the fresh leaves to a glass of tea, for example, or dry the leaves individually and then use them as a sweetener.
Warning:
A single leaf of stevia is enough to sweeten a cup of tea!
You might also be interested in:
» Preserving herbs - 5 ways presented
» Planting herbs - Here's how
» Creating a herb garden - step-by-step instructions