Growing Stevia in Zone 11A

Stevia is the natural sweetener plant — its leaves contain compounds 200-300 times sweeter than sugar with zero calories.

Zone 11A has a very long growing season with mild winters. Many crops can be grown nearly year-round with successive plantings.

Top Growing Tips

• Needs warm temperatures to thrive; don’t rush spring planting
• Pinch flowers immediately — sweetness drops sharply when plant flowers
• Dry leaves and grind to powder for home use as sweetener
• Perennial in zones 9-11; grow as annual or overwinter indoors elsewhere
• Harvest before frost; strip leaves and dry at low temperature

Companion Planting

Good companions: peppers, beans, any vegetables benefiting from pest deterrence

Avoid planting near: Frost-exposed locations

Harvest Timeline

Harvest leaves before flowering for maximum sweetness; dry for long-term use

About Zone 11A

USDA Hardiness Zone 11A has an average last spring frost around Jan 1 and first fall frost around Dec 31. All planting dates above are calculated from these frost dates. Your specific location may vary — check with your local extension office for the most accurate dates.