Stevia

Place stevia near the working edge of an herb bed, raised bed, or patio container, where stems can be pinched and leaves harvested without reaching across neighboring plants. A position behind low herbs and ahead of taller vegetables keeps its 2-foot height from being lost in the planting. Containers are especially useful beside a kitchen door or on a sunny patio, and they make it easier to move the plant under cover before frost where winter freezing occurs.^[1][2]

Set plants 18 inches apart, center to center. At maturity, each plant can spread about 18 inches wide, so this spacing forms a close, continuous row rather than leaving a wide gap between plants. In a mixed herb bed, reserve an 18-inch-wide planting lane and leave a path or open bed edge alongside it for picking and for removing flower buds. Avoid tucking it beneath broader plants that will crowd its leaf canopy.

Use a full-sun position with soil that drains readily while remaining evenly moist. A raised bed, mounded planting area, or container with drainage is a practical fit where garden soil stays wet after rain. Mulch can help hold moisture around the root zone and keep the planting area tidier, but do not allow the soil to remain waterlogged. Give each plant open air space rather than packing it tightly among dense, thirsty crops.^[1][2]

Leaf harvest runs from summer into fall, while flowering begins in late summer and can continue into fall. Pinch out developing flower buds to keep the plant focused on leafy growth, making this a useful task to plan for during routine bed maintenance. The stems may be relatively weak, so place the plant where nearby traffic will not brush through it repeatedly. Harvesting before flowering is a convenient point to cut and dry leaves.^[1][2]