Stevia
Plant Size Guide

Stevia
Stevia Redaudiana
days to maturity: 100 days
plant spacing: 1-3 plants per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours
look out for: spider mites (causes crinkled growing tips)
harvest notes: harvest new growth tips as needed
annual
Stevia is an herb that is gaining popularity due to a trend in low sugar and low carbohydrate eating. Stevia leaves are 300 times sweeter than sugar so they are a great substitute in baking, sweetening coffees and teas, and more. When stevia is being extracted and used in commercial food applications it is quite processed and thusly is just adding flavor however when you use fresh stevia leaf, extract, or tincture you can get the sweetening effects of the compound Rebaudioside alongside many antioxidants. If you use stevia often 3-5 plants will grow you enough leaf to dry and store a years supply, so when your annual plant dies in the spring you can continue to have preserved leaves through the summer. The main medicinal benefit of stevia is the reduction of sugar and simple sugars in the diet, however studies show that stevia can also help lower blood pressure. Stevia is susceptible to mite damage, which shows up on this plant as crinkled or shriveled looking growing tips and new leaves. Mites are a super common pest in South Florida and they are microscopic, so you have to look for the damage not the bug. They can be treated with many organic pesticides including pyganic, neem oil & spinosad.
Delivery Details
Delivery Details
When you place your order we head into our greenhouse to select the very best plants we have in stock for your garden. We label them with handwritten compostable wooden labels and pack them in recyclable boxes to keep them safe on their journey. Our delivery partners, Roadie, take it from there and head to the Redlands to pick up your order. Communication and tracking take place via Roadie and your driver will leave your plants in a safe and covered area.
Plant Care
Plant Care
When your plant delivery arrives, make sure you water your new plants thoroughly with a light spray of water (none of this thumb over the hose stuff). We recommend planting them within 10 days of receiving them. If you do intent to wait to plant them, we recommend placing them in a shallow reservoir (like a baking pan) and filling it with half an inch of water so they can drink the water from below while you are at work and place them in an area with plenty of sun. When planting in your garden always add a dash of Organic granular fertilizer, and give them extra water during their first week in their new home, while they adjust. We recommend disturbing the root ball as little as possible during planting.
About Our Plants
About Our Plants
All of our plants are grown in OMRI certified Organic materials (potting mix, fertilizer, seeds, etc.) and include Organic granular fertilizer, living locally-made compost, and have been cared for with healthy microorganisms from compost tea and microbial inoculants. We only use organic pesticides when needed. We only stock varieties that we have experience growing and that are season and climate appropriate for South Florida. Our curated inventory is simple enough for a beginner and interesting enough to keep an advanced gardeners attention, with new and rare varieties being added weekly.
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Now Little River Nursery & Little River Gardens
Two new names, one guiding vision; to empower people through food and ecology. For more information on our garden installation services visit the Little River Gardens website.

