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Can You Grow Stevia in Kentucky?

US · USDA Zone 6b · zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a

Won't grow here

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

Plant zones

8a–11b

Kentucky last frost

mid-March

Kentucky first frost

mid-November

Days to harvest

60–80 days

When to plant Stevias in Kentucky

Start indoors

Jan 17

Transplant

Mar 15

Harvest

May 14 – Jun 3

Dates are approximate, based on Kentucky'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 Kentucky

Kentucky has a humid continental climate transitioning to subtropical in the south. Long warm summers support tomatoes, peppers, and most common vegetables. Tobacco country.