When to Plant Stevia in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cool Temperate
In October the Cool Temperate zone normally runs 19°C by day and 8°C overnight, with about 67 mm of rain over 9 or 10 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -3.0°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 28 postcodes, SILO.
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This Stevia guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Oct to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 40 cm apart
Stevia is a leafy perennial herb whose leaves taste many times sweeter than sugar. It likes warm, humid places and is frost tender, so cooler gardens grow it in a pot and bring it inside for winter.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct T
- Nov T
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Stevia included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Stevia in Cool Temperate Australia
- Soil
- Fertile, well draining soil (Bunnings, Rob Pyne).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun, or part shade with some afternoon shade in a hot summer (Bunnings, Rob Pyne).
- Spacing
- 40cm apart
- Watering
- Keep the soil evenly moist with frequent light watering (Rob Pyne). Water regularly in warm weather so roots do not dry out, and avoid overwatering in the cooler months (Bunnings).
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Stevia
Recommended Varieties
- Stevia rebaudiana
Key Challenges
- Frost
- Cold wet roots
Pro Tips
- Pot it
- Bring inside for winter
Pests and problems for Stevia in Cool Temperate
Harvesting Stevia
When ready: Pick just as plants start to flower, when the leaves are sweetest (Bunnings). Harvest in the morning when sugar content is highest (Rob Pyne).
How to harvest: Cut stems or pick leaves, then rinse well before eating (Bunnings). Cut stems about 2.5 cm above the ground (Rob Pyne).
Storing and preserving stevia
How to keep it
- Drying. Dry whole stems or leaves in a warm, airy place until crisp, then crumble or grind. No Australian source read, so treat as general practice.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Stevia
When do you plant stevia in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Oct
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Aug to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Nov to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Nov
Can you grow stevia all year round in Melbourne?
No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Oct to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Stevia in Melbourne?
Rob Pyne says cooler southern Australia needs a warm, frost protected spot. Plant out after frost has passed. Best in a pot that can come under cover in winter.
How do I know when Stevia are ready to harvest?
Pick just as plants start to flower, when the leaves are sweetest (Bunnings). Harvest in the morning when sugar content is highest (Rob Pyne).
What are the best Stevia varieties for Melbourne?
Recommended varieties for the Cool Temperate zone include: Stevia rebaudiana.
Are stevia salt tolerant?
Only a little. Stevia are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.