Sugar alternative a sweet addition to any herb garden

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tevia is a herb that will sweeten your herb garden. It is a natural, calorie-free alternative to sugar, that is said to be 200- to 300 times sweeter than table sugar but does not affect blood sugar levels, which is helpful for people with diabetes. A member of the sunflower family, stevia is native to South America and the leaves have been used for hundreds of years as a sweetener.

Stevia plants are available at the herb section of the garden centre during the spring and early summer, but if you are feeling adventurous you can start your own plants from seed, which is available in the garden centre now. Starting stevia seeds can be challenging as well as test your patience as early growth is slow. Start seeds indoors at least six to eight weeks before the last spring frost. Sow seeds in a moistened starter mix. Placing the seed-filled tray on a heat mat will help with germination as well as placing a plastic dome on top of the seed tray to keep consistent moisture is another important factor in start- ing seeds.

Once the seeds have germinated remove the dome. It is very important to ensure plants get lots of light for healthy, even growth. Adjustable grow lights placed above the plants work well. When seedlings have formed their first set of true leaves, they can be transplanted into their own containers.

Once established, stevia is not too hard to grow. They like well-drained loamy soil. They are a heat-loving plant so plant in a sunny location. They do not tolerate any frost so do not put outdoors until all threat of frost has passed and temperatures have warmed up. Planting stevia in containers works well as you are able to move them in a protected area as well as bring them indoors when temperatures get cold.

Containers should be at least 30 cm in size. Stevia can also be planted in the herb garden. To grow healthy plants, don’t allow the plant to dry out but, also don’t keep it soggy as this will cause root rot.

As the plant grows, trim the tips to encourage more branches, which in turn means more leaves to harvest. The trimmed pieces can be used fresh or dried for later use. The trimmed pieces can also be made into cuttings to produce more new plants. You can start to pick individual leaves as you need them. The best time for harvest, is just before the plant forms buds.

Once the flowers form the leaves become bitter. To extend the growing season, remove flower buds as soon as they appear. The plant can be harvested in the fall by cutting the whole plant back and hanging it upside down in a warm, dry, ventilated place. Another option is to remove the leaves and tender tips from the cut stems, loosely place them in a dehydrator or on a piece of mesh, and let them sit in the sun for a day. After they have been dried, crush them and store them in an airtight container.

When using stevia, remember it is very sweet so use it sparingly.