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| Stevia
seeds and how to grow them |
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Stevia seeds are
elliptical in shape and extremely light (about 0.3g per 1000 black
seeds). They have small bristles attached to them, allowing the seeds
to travel on the wind. They are practically invisible to the naked eye.
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Sweet
leaf stevia only grows in the wild in warmer climates, since the stevia
plant cannot survive cold temperatures.
The
ideal temperature is 75°F
to 85°F (24°C to 29°C). To offer stevia the best chances of survival in
moderate climates - for example in Europe - it has to be cultivated and
followed up on very meticulously in greenhouses.
It is not impossible to grow stevia in your home garden though, but
remember that the plant needs a lot of sunlight and warmth.
 The
stevia
herb will usually react well to growing outside in the summertime, but
once winter approaches, it's best to keep the plant indoors at room
temperature. Never expose the sweet leaf to frost!
There are two kinds of stevia seeds: black and tan. Only the black
seeds allow for reproduction of the plant, and even then
the
germination ratio is moderate and depends a lot on the seed quality. If
you're growing stevia
seeds ,
it's recommended to expose them to light
in order to visibly increase the success rate (no pun intended). If you
are not planning on planting the seeds immediately, it's best to store
them in a cool and dry place, such as your fridge, until you are ready
to plant them. Don't worry, you can store them for months without any
risk.
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For the best results,
start growing the seeds indoors in March or April
and be sure to expose the plant to a
lot of light.
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Adjust the
distance between the lamp light and the soil to increase or decrease
temperature - keeping in mind the ideal values mentioned above. It is
highly recommended that you use highly permeable soil to grow the seeds
in (for further advice, visit your local garden center). If you water
the plant frequently and keep the soil moist at all times, you should
see favorable results after about one to two weeks.
Keep feeding the plant in this manner for another two weeks or so, then
cut the amount of light exposure in half. Continue on this rhythm until
the plant is about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) in length. You can then
move the plant to a bigger pot to allow its roots more
freedom.
Place the plant inside behind a glass window oriented south. The glass
will catch and amplify the warmth coming from the sunlight. You'll be
ready for some great sugar
free recipes before you know it!
Before
moving your sweet leaf stevia plant outdoors, it's wise to
harden it
in order to familiarize the plant with a change in
temperature conditions. Do this by moving it outdoors during the day,
preferably to a sheltered area. Leave it there until nightfall, and
when the temperature drops too low (try not to go below 45°F/7°C), move
it back inside the house. Keep doing this every day for about a week
before moving the stevia plant outside permanently. For more tips, be
sure to also check out the page on growing your sweet leaf through stevia
plant cuttings.
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