Stevia in Zone 10a & 10b
Stevia rebaudiana
Yes, stevia grows in zones 10a and 10b. Set out nursery plants in Feb–Apr. For a fall crop, plant out in Oct–Nov.
When to plant stevia in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Buy as a start: Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside. It's slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Window | Spring window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not started from seed; buy as a nursery start |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Feb–Apr |
| Estimated harvest | ~90 days after transplanting |
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not started from seed; buy as a nursery start |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Oct–Nov |
| Estimated harvest | ~90 days after transplanting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2.5 ft.
Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists stevia for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of stevia in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilFeb–Aug
- RosemaryFeb–Apr
- BorageJan 30–Feb 6
- Lemon BalmFeb–Apr
- Marjoram (Sweet)Feb–Apr
- Mint (Spearmint)Feb–Apr
Stevia is grown for its intensely sweet leaves, used fresh or dried as a natural sugar substitute, and it's a tender perennial that only survives winter outdoors in zones 10 and 11.
How stevia fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Stevia needs about 90 days from transplant to first harvest.
Stevia planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Buy as a start | Jun 6–Jun 13 | Sep 4–Sep 11 |
| 4a & 4b | Buy as a start | May 22–May 29 | Aug 20–Aug 27 |
| 5a & 5b | Buy as a start | May 17–May 24 | Aug 15–Aug 22 |
| 6a & 6b | Buy as a start | May 2–May 9 | Jul 31–Aug 7 |
| 7a & 7b | Buy as a start | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jul 16–Jul 23 |
| 8a & 8b | Buy as a start | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Jun 30–Jul 7 |
| 9a & 9b | Buy as a start | Feb 22–Mar 1 | May 23–May 30 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window (your zone) | Buy as a start | Feb–Apr | ~90 days after transplanting |
| Fall window | Buy as a start | Oct–Nov | ~90 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11b | Buy as a start | Jan 8–Jan 15 | Apr 8–Apr 15 |
Harvest dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
No well-established companions for stevia.
Where to buy stevia starts
Stevia is almost always bought as a nursery start rather than seeded. Check a local nursery or garden center; we haven't vetted online start/plant suppliers yet.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing stevia" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Stevia in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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