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Can You Grow Stevia in Iowa?

US · USDA Zone 5a · zones 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b

Won't grow here

Stevia is frost-tender but thrives in a pot on a sunny windowsill year-round.

Plant zones

8a–11b

Iowa last frost

mid-April

Iowa first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

60–80 days

When to plant Stevias in Iowa

Start indoors

Feb 17

Transplant

Apr 15

Harvest

Jun 14 – Jul 4

Dates are approximate, based on Iowa's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Stevia

Stevia is the natural zero-calorie sweetener — the leaves are 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. Easy to grow as a container plant and overwinter indoors in cold climates.

Start from transplants (seeds have low germination). Grow in a pot and overwinter indoors in frost-prone zones. Harvest leaves before the plant flowers — sweetness peaks pre-flower. Dry leaves and crush for sweetener.

Full stevia growing guide →

Gardening in Iowa

Iowa has a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Most of the state is Zone 5a-5b. Excellent for cool-season crops and hardy fruits.