healing plants? Answer...Growing Stevia and more!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jackie!

 

Look on eBay. There are usually several sellers offering Stevia

starter plants, and they tend not to be too expensive considering

Stevia is a perinnial. It's just not a HARDY perinnial. So in

colder climates, one only has to dig up the plant and bring it in

for the winter (in a pot, of course). Or you can take cuttings to

propagate, if you don't want to dig up the whole plant.

 

They are very easy to propagate by taking cuttings and putting the

ends in a glass of water until new roots form. Of course, a sunny

window is preferred. So what I suggest is that you buy 1-3 plants

for this season, then bring them in for the winter. Or take plenty

of cuttings and get lots of new baby plants started for placing out

next year so that you can have an even larger harvest! Multiply!

 

I don't recommend trying to start Stevia from seed because of its

naturally low germination rate (only about 20%). I was really lucky

several years ago when I bought a commercial packet of Stevia

seeds. There were only 7 seeds in the packet and I was splitting

that packet with another gardener. So I was generous and gave her 4

seeds while keeping 3 for myself. One of the three germinated.

 

That mother plant gave me repeated baby plants through cuttings so

that I was able to build up my 'crop'. Every year I would dig up at

least 1-3 of my plants and bring them in for the winter.

 

Then about 4 years ago I didn't get around to digging any of them

up. They over-wintered and came up on their own the following

year. I live in zone 6b-7a, for those of you who are interested.

Anyway, I never worried about it again. Then, this past spring we

got hit with an extremely late and hard freeze. It even killed huge

old trees in the area. Needless to say, I lost my Stevia. So I'll

be starting fresh this year, too.

 

By the way, if you decide to grow your own Stevia, I HIGHLY

recommend growing some Chocolate Mint, too. Then, during the summer

when you get a craving for a Peppermint Patty, go pick yourself a

Chocolate Mint leaf and a Stevia leaf. Pop them both in your mouth

simultaneously, and chew. Yum! A lot less calories, too!

 

I would like to recommend that you get the book entitled 'Plant

Spirit Medicine' by Eliot Cowan. It brings to light a whole 'new'

concept of using native medicinal plants for healing. It will take

you on an awsome spiritual journey in the process! Something tells

me it would be right up your alley.

 

Good Luck!

 

Turtle

 

, " Jackie Davis "

<Hill8628 wrote:

>

> One of the things I have been trying to do is find local native

plants or plants I can grow to use for healing. I have also been

working with the idea of food I consume as healing agents---such as

cinnamon or stevia for diabetes. If anyone has information along

those lines I would appreciate it.

>

> I live in New York State.

>

> Jackie

[Guest guest]

At 10:12 PM 4/9/2008, you wrote:

I know this wasn't to me but....mint and various types of mint are great

- just be sure to contain them, because it'll spread like crazy. Turtle,

got a question about the stevia - I use it, but have never grown it. How

do you use the plant? Just the leaves or what? and how do you use

them? I did a search on your zones - where do you live out of

curiosity?

Lynn

 

Hi Jackie!

Look on eBay. There are usually several sellers offering Stevia

starter plants, and they tend not to be too expensive considering

Stevia is a perinnial. It's just not a HARDY perinnial. So in

colder climates, one only has to dig up the plant and bring it in

for the winter (in a pot, of course). Or you can take cuttings to

propagate, if you don't want to dig up the whole plant.

They are very easy to propagate by taking cuttings and putting the

ends in a glass of water until new roots form. Of course, a sunny

window is preferred. So what I suggest is that you buy 1-3 plants

for this season, then bring them in for the winter. Or take plenty

of cuttings and get lots of new baby plants started for placing out

next year so that you can have an even larger harvest! Multiply!

I don't recommend trying to start Stevia from seed because of its

naturally low germination rate (only about 20%). I was really lucky

several years ago when I bought a commercial packet of Stevia

seeds. There were only 7 seeds in the packet and I was splitting

that packet with another gardener. So I was generous and gave her 4

seeds while keeping 3 for myself. One of the three germinated.

That mother plant gave me repeated baby plants through cuttings so

that I was able to build up my 'crop'. Every year I would dig up at

least 1-3 of my plants and bring them in for the winter.

Then about 4 years ago I didn't get around to digging any of them

up. They over-wintered and came up on their own the following

year. I live in zone 6b-7a, for those of you who are interested.

Anyway, I never worried about it again. Then, this past spring we

got hit with an extremely late and hard freeze. It even killed huge

old trees in the area. Needless to say, I lost my Stevia. So I'll

be starting fresh this year, too.

By the way, if you decide to grow your own Stevia, I HIGHLY

recommend growing some Chocolate Mint, too. Then, during the summer

when you get a craving for a Peppermint Patty, go pick yourself a

Chocolate Mint leaf and a Stevia leaf. Pop them both in your mouth

simultaneously, and chew. Yum! A lot less calories, too!

I would like to recommend that you get the book entitled 'Plant

Spirit Medicine' by Eliot Cowan. It brings to light a whole 'new'

concept of using native medicinal plants for healing. It will take

you on an awsome spiritual journey in the process! Something tells

me it would be right up your alley.

Good Luck!

Turtle

--- In

 

, " Jackie Davis "

<Hill8628 wrote:

>

> One of the things I have been trying to do is find local native

 

plants or plants I can grow to use for healing. I have also been

working with the idea of food I consume as healing agents---such as

cinnamon or stevia for diabetes. If anyone has information along

those lines I would appreciate it.

>

> I live in New York State.

>

> Jackie

[Guest guest]

Chocolate mint---I remember it well---had some years back but it didn't

survive outside so I brought it in during the winter but after two winters

it just died out. I will have to take a look for some more. I even had

some recipes to go with it but that was two computers ago and are long gone.

 

I have one stevia plant but never tried rooting it to make more. I will

give that a try this year. I find it works real well with putting a couple

of crushed mint and stevia leaves in my iced tea maker with some herbal tea

bags. Makes great iced tea! Gets me through those hot days now that I have

given up pop!

 

A friend of mine bought a couple of stevia plants and stuck them in the back

seat with her kids. By the time she got home there wasn't a leaf left on

the plants---the kids had eaten them all!

 

I need to dig out my Native American books--that book sounds familiar!

 

Jackie

-

" turtlewoman797 " <turtlewoman797

 

Wednesday, April 09, 2008 10:12 PM

Re: healing plants? Answer...Growing Stevia

and more!

 

 

Hi Jackie!

 

Look on eBay. There are usually several sellers offering Stevia

starter plants, and they tend not to be too expensive considering

Stevia is a perinnial. It's just not a HARDY perinnial. So in

colder climates, one only has to dig up the plant and bring it in

for the winter (in a pot, of course). Or you can take cuttings to

propagate, if you don't want to dig up the whole plant.

 

They are very easy to propagate by taking cuttings and putting the

ends in a glass of water until new roots form. Of course, a sunny

window is preferred. So what I suggest is that you buy 1-3 plants

for this season, then bring them in for the winter. Or take plenty

of cuttings and get lots of new baby plants started for placing out

next year so that you can have an even larger harvest! Multiply!

 

I don't recommend trying to start Stevia from seed because of its

naturally low germination rate (only about 20%). I was really lucky

several years ago when I bought a commercial packet of Stevia

seeds. There were only 7 seeds in the packet and I was splitting

that packet with another gardener. So I was generous and gave her 4

seeds while keeping 3 for myself. One of the three germinated.

 

That mother plant gave me repeated baby plants through cuttings so

that I was able to build up my 'crop'. Every year I would dig up at

least 1-3 of my plants and bring them in for the winter.

 

Then about 4 years ago I didn't get around to digging any of them

up. They over-wintered and came up on their own the following

year. I live in zone 6b-7a, for those of you who are interested.

Anyway, I never worried about it again. Then, this past spring we

got hit with an extremely late and hard freeze. It even killed huge

old trees in the area. Needless to say, I lost my Stevia. So I'll

be starting fresh this year, too.

 

By the way, if you decide to grow your own Stevia, I HIGHLY

recommend growing some Chocolate Mint, too. Then, during the summer

when you get a craving for a Peppermint Patty, go pick yourself a

Chocolate Mint leaf and a Stevia leaf. Pop them both in your mouth

simultaneously, and chew. Yum! A lot less calories, too!

 

I would like to recommend that you get the book entitled 'Plant

Spirit Medicine' by Eliot Cowan. It brings to light a whole 'new'

concept of using native medicinal plants for healing. It will take

you on an awsome spiritual journey in the process! Something tells

me it would be right up your alley.

 

Good Luck!

 

Turtle

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynn!

 

I live in south central Kentucky. When I moved here about 10 years

ago, this was firmly in the 6b growing zone. Since then we have

been changed to a 7a growing zone. Give it a few more years of

global warming and we'll be able to grow oranges and avacados here!

LOL!

 

You are absolutely right about mint needing to be contained! Some

edging that goes down in the ground a few inches, or a wider border

like brick or cinder block, tends to do the trick, though, so

nothing too major. Certainly not like growing bamboo! You just

have to keep an eye on it.

 

I must confess that I don't use Stevia on a regular basis, although

I should just for health reasons. The leaves are the really sweet

part, but you can chew on the young tender stems too. The leaves

truly are 'knock-your-socks-off' sweet. I've used the leaves fresh

off the plant for my imitation " Peppermint Patties " , as well as in

hot tea and coffee.

 

I believe www.stevia.net is about your best source for anything you

need to know about Stevia. They've got growing instructions,

processing directions, recipes, and mail order sources for starter

plants...plus a whole lot more.

 

Turtle

 

, Lynn Ward <lynnward

wrote:

>

> At 10:12 PM 4/9/2008, you wrote:

>

> I know this wasn't to me but....mint and various types of mint are

> great - just be sure to contain them, because it'll spread like

> crazy. Turtle, got a question about the stevia - I use it, but

have

> never grown it. How do you use the plant? Just the leaves or what?

> and how do you use them? I did a search on your zones - where do

you

> live out of curiosity?

>

> Lynn