When to Plant Stevia in Cecilia, Louisiana (70521)

Location

Cecilia, Louisiana

ZIP Code

70521

USDA Zone

Last Frost

Friday, February 20, 2026

📅 Planting Calendar

Start Seeds Indoors Friday, December 12, 2025

Transplant Outdoors Friday, March 6, 2026

Pro Tip: Start Stevia seeds indoors 10 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Friday, March 6, 2026.

🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Stevia rebaudiana

Days to Maturity 90 days

Mature Height 18-24"

Spread 18"

Type Tender Perennial

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6-8 hours)

💧

Water

Moderate (consistent moisture)

↔️

Spacing

18" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.13" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 14-21 days

Ready to Plant Stevia in Cecilia?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Friday, December 12, 2025.

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🤝 Good Companions

PepperTomatoBasil

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

Fennel

See the full companion planting guide for Stevia →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🟡 Moderate

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Harvest seed heads when brown and dry in fall, just before the first frost.

Processing

Strip dried flower heads, separate chaff, surface sow immediately or store cool and dry.

Seed Viability

Up to 2 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

Stevia germination rates can be low (20–50%). Surface sow and provide light — seeds need light to germinate.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 14 plants of Stevia. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Stevia in Cecilia, Louisiana? +

In Cecilia (Zone 9a), start Stevia seeds indoors around Friday, December 12, 2025 and transplant outdoors around Friday, March 6, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Cecilia, Louisiana? +

The average last spring frost date for Cecilia, Louisiana (ZIP 70521) is around Friday, February 20, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 9a.

How long does Stevia take to grow? +

Stevia typically matures in about 90 days from transplanting. In Cecilia, that means you can expect harvest around Friday, March 6, 2026 plus 90 days.

Should I start Stevia indoors or direct sow in Louisiana? +

Stevia should be started indoors 10 weeks before your last frost date. In Cecilia, that means starting around Friday, December 12, 2025.

Other Plants for Cecilia

Blackberry Blueberry Raspberry Strawberry Basil Chamomile Chives Cilantro Dill Lavender Lemon Balm Marjoram Mint Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Tarragon Thyme Acorn Squash Artichoke Arugula Asparagus Beefsteak Tomato Beet Bell Pepper Bok Choy Broccoli Brussels Sprout Butternut Squash Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrot Cauliflower Cayenne Pepper Celery Cherry Tomato Chili Pepper Collard Green Common Bean Cucumber Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Grape Tomato Green Bean Habanero Pepper Head Lettuce Heirloom Tomato Honeydew Melon Jalapeño Pepper Kale Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuce Leek Lima Bean Mustard Okra Onion Parsnip Pea Poblano Pepper Pole Pea Potato Pumpkin Radicchio Radish Rhubarb Roma Tomato Rutabaga Serrano Pepper Shallot Snap Pea Snow Pea Spaghetti Squash Spinach Squash Sweet Corn Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Tomato Turnip Watermelon Zucchini Sunflower Marigold Zinnia Nasturtium Cosmos Echinacea (Coneflower) Petunia Black-eyed Susan Apple Tree Pear Tree Peach Tree Plum Tree Sweet Cherry Tree Lemon Tree Borage Lemongrass Ginger Tomatillo Edamame Fava Bean Mâche Mizuna Sorrel Shishito Pepper Banana Pepper Watermelon Radish Napa Cabbage Popcorn Broccoli Raab Catnip Valerian Lemon Verbena Bee Balm Anise Lovage Chervil Summer Savory Dahlia Snapdragon Pansy Sweet Pea Morning Glory Hollyhock Larkspur Bachelor Button Columbine Impatiens Salvia (Annual) Sweet Alyssum Celosia Lupine Verbena Elderberry Grape Vine Red Currant Gooseberry Serviceberry Fig Tree Avocado Tree Persimmon Tree Olive Tree

Growing Stevia in Zone 9a

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) is a popular garden vegetable. In Cecilia, Louisiana, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a, you should start seeds indoors around Friday, December 12, 2025.

Your average last frost date is Friday, February 20, 2026. Plan to transplant your Stevia seedlings outdoors around Friday, March 6, 2026, about 2 weeks after your last frost date.