The Amazing Sweet Herb
By Jeffrey Goettemoeller
Stevia Rebaudiana
Stevia rebaudiana is a fascinating plant, native to the higher altitudes of Paraguay and Brazil in South America. Stevia is the genus, meaning a broad classification of plants. Rebaudiana is the species name. Only this species, out of the many found in the Americas, contains the high concentration of sweet glycosides making this “sweet leaf” such a useful and amazing herb. The dried leaf, in fact, is 10-15 times sweeter than cane sugar! Powdered stevia leaf, known as green stevia powder, may be found for sale at natural food stores or online while waiting for your first harvest.
Not a particularly showy plant, stevia’s sweet taste is its most notable feature. It is a non-woody herb with somewhat stiff and brittle stems. Stevia leaves are small and narrow, notched on the end. The leaves are much sweeter than stems. Plants reach about 2 feet in height. Stevia is a tender perennial herb, which means it survives winters and keeps growing, but only where winters are mild. The roots may survive some winters as far north as USDA hardiness zone 8.
Fortunately, stevia may be grown as an annual outdoors. The long summer days in colder climates are actually an advantage for growing stevia. Plants grown at higher latitudes with more daylight will have more leaves and a higher percentage of sweet glycosides.
Find more about growing stevia in Jeffrey's books, Growing and Using Stevia: The Sweet Leaf from Garden to Table with 35 Recipes. or Growing Stevia for Market: Farm, Garden, and Nursery Cultivation of the Sweet Herb, Stevia rebaudiana
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Growing Stevia for Market Farm, Garden, and Nursery Cultivation of the Sweet Herb, Stevia rebaudiana |
 | Grow the Sweet Herb for Profit! By Jeffrey Goettemoeller. Manual for farmers, greenhouse owners, and market gardeners interested in growing Stevia rebaudiana for profit. Also useful for researchers. Brings together research data from around the world along with author's own experience. Includes list of stevia leaf buyers and other valuable resources. 216 pages. 42 grayscale illustrations. Prairie Oak Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9786293-5-9 Click here to learn more about this book. | Growing Stevia for Market Prairie Oak Publishing 216 pages. 42 grayscale illustrations. ISBN 978-0-9786293-5-9 $29.00, US dollars |
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Growing Stevia PowerPoint photographic introduction PowerPoint Slide Show Digital Download |
 | PowerPoint Slide Show for Gardeners! Get the free pdf version on the downloads page. Based on the "Growing and Using Stevia" book By Jeffrey Goettemoeller & Karen Lucke. Color photos! Great for talks to gardening or herb groups. $5.00, 34 slides with 45 color photos Prairie Oak Publishing | Prairie Oak Publishing 34 slides with 45 photos $5.00, US dollars digital download |
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Growing Stevia for Market PowerPoint photographic introduction PowerPoint Slide Show Digital Download |
 | PowerPoint Slide Show for Farmers! Get the free pdf version on the downloads page. Based on the "Growing Stevia for Market" book By Jeffrey Goettemoeller. Color photos! Great for talks to more advanced gardening or farm groups. $11.00, 46 slides & 58 photos/illustrations Prairie Oak Publishing | Prairie Oak Publishing $11.00, US dollars digital download |
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