Stevia rebaudiana
Easy and quick in frost free areas. otherwise,
give some protection over winter when it should be cut back to
ground level.Stevia, (Stevia rebaudiana), also called sweet leaf, flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae), grown for its sweet-tasting leaves. The leaves contain a number of sweet-tasting chemicals known as steviol glycosides, which can be used fresh or dried to sweeten beverages or desserts or can be commercially processed into powdered noncaloric sweeteners. Steviol glycosides, particularly the chemicals stevioside and rebaudioside A, can be more than 300 times sweeter than table sugar and are nonglycemic (i.e., they do not affect blood glucose levels so are perfect for diabetics ). Touted as a healthier alternative to sugar, stevia sweeteners grew in popularity worldwide in the early 21st century.
Approximate minimum seed count per pack
40
Germination
Sow stevia seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost in spring. Sow seeds ¼ inches deep in seed-starting formula. Sow double or triple the amount of seed you usually would for other plants as the germination rate can be lower than for other seed varieties. Seedlings emerge in 14-21 days.