How to Grow Malaysian Stevia

Stevia is an herbal plant native to South America but is being cultivated in many countries including Malaysia. The pure extract, stevisode, is 300 times sweeter than sugar with the dried leaves being 30 times sweeter than sugar. For all its sweetness, it has no calories, making it a sugar substitute of choice. Growing Malaysian Stevia is most difficult in the starting stages. However, once the plant is growing, it is a very resilient herb.

Rich soil
Starter plants
Compost
Mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Plant the stevia herb when temperatures are still cool during the spring; ideally when the soil temperature is between 50 and 60 degrees F, 2 to 3 inches deep.
- 2
  Position the plants at least 18 inches apart to give the plants enough room to grow. Mix the soil with 1 part compost for every 3 parts of ground soil to provide essential nutrients to help the plants thrive.
- 3
  Keep the soil moist, but not saturated, as over-watering will kill Malaysian stevia.
- 4
  Mulch the soil with wood chips during hot summer months to prevent the soil from drying and causing root atrophy. Cover the top soil with a single layer of 3 to 4 inches.
- 5
  Weed stevia crops by hand, pulling weeds up from the roots.
- 6
  Strip the leaves of the Malaysian stevia plant as part of a fall harvest. Prune the bush so that only 4 inches remain of each stem near the base of the plant.

How to Grow Herbs & Spices at Home

Medicinal Purposes of Lavender Plants

Herb Basics