Anyone grown stevia?

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Fat Controller, Feb 4, 2014.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    Just been watching something on the telly about stevia, and how it can be used as a natural sweetener (or the syrup from it can if steeped in water overnight), and apparently it will grow in the UK...... now, its not as though I don't have enough seeds, but once a gardener, always a gardener.... :heehee:

    Anyone grown this stuff?
     
  2. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    I think @shiney said he's grown it.
     
  3. noisette47

    noisette47 Total Gardener

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    Yes, I grew it from seed. Ended up with three plants and made more from cuttings.
    It's not easy to dry well, though, and has a strange 'liquorice' aftertaste.
     
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    • Marley Farley

      Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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      I haven't someone I know has & says they are a half hardy perennial plant if overwintered on a cool window sill indoors or heated conservatory here... Take cuttings when you find a really sweet plant as they vary.. This is what she sent me...

      This might be of interest as well.. http://www.stevia.net/growingstevia.htm
       
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      • Lea

        Lea Super Gardener

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        I use Stevia instead of sugar all the time. Lovely stuff and it lasts forever because it is 3oo times sweeter than sugar so a little goes a long way. I am going to be growing it this year.
        Good luck with yours and let us know how it goes. :)
         
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        • shiney

          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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          Yes, we used to grow it. It wasn't difficult to grow but I suggest you consider it to be similar to growing basil - a non-hardy perennial that doesn't like getting too cold or have its feet to wet.

          The plant will never give you the equivalent sweetness of the sweetener you buy but it is sweet. You can infuse the fresh leaves in your drink or dry the leaves and crush them. I hung them up in a sunny, dry position outside and they dried pretty quickly. Sometimes the fresh leaves can have a slightly bitter aftertaste.

          Re buying the stevia sweetener:- look carefully at the content of the different products :hate-shocked:. Now that it's allowed over here, the sweetener manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon. You sometimes find that they 'stevia' product contains artificial sweetener in varying amounts. Some of the artificial ones are OK and other you wouldn't want to touch with bargepole!

          As with everything - always read the label.
           
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          • tigerspots

            tigerspots Gardener

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            Got a cutting from a friend last year, it managed to survive several months with irregular watering (before it eventually died from not getting any water at all).
             
          • Fat Controller

            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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            Thanks all :)

            The liquorice flavour puts me off a bit, as I can't stand the stuff, however if I could grow some without that it might be worthwhile - especially for sticking a few leaves in with a brew for sweetness. I have a very sweet tooth, so if there was any way I could cut down a bit it would be good?

            Might take a look at the stuff in the supermarket first, see if I can get a stevia only sweetener and see what it tastes like.
             
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            • westwales

              westwales Gardener

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              The plants are reasonably easy to get hold of this year - I've been able to buy it in my local garden centre. Don't know if I'll ever use it but I thought I'd give it a go just for interest.
               
            • Cinnamon

              Cinnamon Super Gardener

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              I grew it last year very successfully. Gave away most of the plants. My friend took a cutting and has successfully rooted and overwintered it on a N facing windowsill. Mine went to seed so I removed the leaves and chucked it. My excess leaves are in the freezer. As people say, it does have a taste. It's not really licorice flavoured, but I can see why that's an approximation of the taste.
               
            • Dips

              Dips Total Gardener

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              i have seeds that i was suppose to grow last year and suppose to grow this year. I will aimt for next year now lol

              James wong does them in his seed collection
               
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              • Adendoll

                Adendoll Super Gardener

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                I tried the James Wong seeds last year, got them started but lost the lot. After reading this thread I think the conditions were too wet for them.
                May have a punt on another pack of seeds, now I know others have been successful with it!
                 
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                • Cinnamon

                  Cinnamon Super Gardener

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                  I mixed some horticultural gravel in with the compost of mine so it was free draining.
                   
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                  • Steffy

                    Steffy Apprentice Gardener

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                    Think I will give this one a go, need to lose some of my christmas pud still!
                     
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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      I've been using Stevia for about 20 years, before the ban, during the ban (I helped get it removed) and since the ban.

                      The best make that I've found is 'Stevia Extract' made by Vitacost and comes in liquid form in 4oz dropper bottles. The unadulterated version is not sold over here and and I buy it from America (on line). The added ingredients in their version are just vegetable glycerin (thickens it) and deionised water (dilutes it).

                      I reckon that two drops equal a flat teaspoon of sugar and each bottle is supposed to contain 3200 drops. I use it sparingly (1 drop in a cup of tea and 4 drops in a bowl of porridge) and a bottle lasts about six months. We usually buy five or six bottles at a time because it saves hassle and a lot of postage.
                       
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