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Garden Gate:  Growing Stevia  |
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Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 08 2006 : 09:21:10 AM
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Has anyone ever grown stevia?
If so what was the results?
~~Bridge's Boutique~~
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2006 : 09:55:49 AM
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I have grown it for two years here in Quilcene Washington. I bought one start at a local nursery and the nurseryman told me that it would not survive any temps under 45 degrees so I would want to plant it in a container that I could move about to protect from the cold. In other climates it is a rather woody perrenial.
The leaves are bright green and look somewhat like a mint leaf. I planted my start in a 3 gallon nursery pot and harvest the soft green foliage to dry several times throughout the summer. Pinching it at the tips seems to help it branch out so you get more foilage to harvest. I bring mine into a sheltered spot that I can heat if the temp gets below 45 degrees and it goes dormant through the winter but as soon as the weather settles in and the nights stay above 45 it begins to send out new growth. So I am thinking about getting a few more of them now. I crush the dried leaves and use them in tea and lemonaid. Have not tried to cook with it yet.
Eileen
Songbird; singing joy to the earth |
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Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2006 : 2:55:30 PM
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Thanks Eileen,
I think I might just have to try it.
I use stevia all the time. I have been using a liquid form.But today I bought some white powder, I read on the web that you can make your own liquid from the white powder. It is less expensive that way. So I am going to try that!!
I had some powder once that was a green powder, but it had a awful taste. I think I threw it in the trash.
Do you dry the leaves or use them fresh in your tea & lemonaid?
~~Bridge's Boutique~~
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2006 : 6:06:09 PM
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Both. I use them fresh when summer is in full swing but I dry and use all I can for winter. I steep it right along with the tea bags. It does not take very much. Sometimes when I need a sweet break I just pick and chew a leaf. I have found out however that my chickens like it to and I have to wrap it in chicken wire to keep them out. Also the deer and the wild rabbits eat it so you may need to protect it for some to harvest.
Eileen
Songbird; singing joy to the earth |
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manda
Farmgirl in Training
49 Posts
amanda
corralitos
cA
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2006 : 08:07:31 AM
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I grow Stevia and it very easy and hearty. The kids love to graze on it and call it the sugar plant : )
Manda |
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n/a
deleted
74 Posts
Tammy
Southern Coast
Oregon
74 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2006 : 10:38:09 AM
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I have grown it here as well. I grew mine in a 2 gal container it is very hardy in our climate. It's amazing how sweet it is.
When I feel spring coming I have to plant or I’ll go crazy! |
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Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
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SmallTownGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Rose
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2006 : 2:18:20 PM
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I love using Stevie but I didn't know you could grow it. I am going to definitly try it this summer. Thanks for the tip.
Remember what you now have was once among the things only hoped for. |
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lonestargal
True Blue Farmgirl
607 Posts
Kristi
Texas
607 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2006 : 5:28:50 PM
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| I didn't know you could grow it either, just commercially. I use Stevia all the time. It's the only sweetener I use for drinks. Where did you get the seeds or starters? |
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Photobugs
True Blue Farmgirl
363 Posts
Pamela
Post Falls
Idaho
USA
363 Posts |
Posted - Mar 09 2006 : 8:21:35 PM
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Yeah, I need to know where you got the seeds as well. I use it in my tea all day long, both the powder and the liquid. Thanks,
Pamela
"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" |
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Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
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Muttley
True Blue Farmgirl
67 Posts
Heather
A tiny town
Oregon
USA
67 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2006 : 1:29:13 PM
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You can also get plant starts from Territorial Seed co in Cottage Grove, OR
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet." -Shakespeare |
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Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
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Garden Gate: Growing Stevia |
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Growing Stevia
