Stevia Harvest and Overwintering
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Pat Hughes
Posted on: September 24, 2004

I have two stevia plants, and do not know how exactly to harvest them. Also, is it ok to bring them in through the winter, or do they need to die back for the winter months?

Harvesting is simple: just cut of the tops of stems being sure to leave about 10 centimeters (4") at the base. Discard the bitter stems and dry the leaves before powdering them through a sieve.

We have answered similar questions before and posted the answers on our web-site www.richters.com under the "Q&A" heading in the "News & Info" section of the site. Click on "Search Question & Answers" and type in "Stevia", to find the topics that sound as if they would answer your questions.

Stevia will survive out of doors in zones 9 to the tropics. Remember that to grow well and survive through the winter indoors, stevia should be grown in soil that is rich, black, sandy, moist; it likes to grow on the edges of marshland on acid , infertile sand or muck. The pH should be within 4 to 8 with 6.5 being ideal. Day length must be long to prevent dormancy.

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