Stevia - a perennial herb of the family Asteraceae native to South America (Paraguay). Referred to as honey herb due to the presence in the leaves glucoside (stevioside). This unique substance 300 times sweeter than glucose.
Superior quality stevia
Thanks to stevioside and rebaudioside, stevia is best known herbal sweetener in the world. The extract of this herb is used by people, monitoring the diet and weight, diabetic body, all over the world from Japan to the native of South America.
The high content of nutrients and trace elements make Stevia extracts are incredibly useful for internal use. Vitamins A, E, P, amino acids, essential oils, and carotene is more than contained in the leaves and stems of plants.
Growing stevia
Stevia is genetically heat-loving plant. In our country, this perennial is grown one season and the next re-planted.
Stevia likes comfortable air and soil temperature + 15 ° C - + 30 ° C. The work starts with preparation of seedlings. Seeds planted fashionable home in pots in early May.
Tip! It is better to plant stevia directly into garden pots to a depth of 40 cm and wide neck up to 30 cm. All the same, the bush will be forced annuals. Therefore, in pots to be conveniently transferred to the greenhouse and then on the street.
Priming: Soils plant prefers neutral (pH 5,6-6,9). Potting soil you can buy ready-made or make by mixing vegetable garden earth, peat, humus. The proportion of 2: 1: 1.
Sowing
In the bottom of pots 1 is required to make a hole fill expanded clay layer 2-3 cm, 3 cm from the top layer of sand, then ground. Stevia seeds are very small, so they can be sown on the surface and deepening pour. Water utyanet seeds into the soil. After the transparent cover with foil and place in a warm bright place.
5-7 days there are shoots. Open early in the film. It is better to hold the youngsters in "teplichke" for another 28 days. Then you can not for a long time to open the seedlings for a week accustoming them to the open climate of the apartment. And a half month later from the date of emergence of the plants can settle without the films on a sunny windowsill.
Watering
Do not forget that the homeland of the plant humid and hot Paraguay. The soil under the seedlings should be well hydrated, as well as the microclimate around. Always keep the soil by sprinkling the ground with an atomizer and young himself daily.
top-dressing
After the second month of growth, the plant needs feeding. two weeks is enough time fertilizer combined with irrigation. Stevia appreciatively responds to watering mullein solution (1:10). With regular care the autumn bush reaches a height of 80 cm!
How to use stevia
Gardeners use stevia leaves. They are collected, dried on trays. Drying is important to equip gentle: in the open air, under a canopy or on the veranda.
Dried leaves can be folded in cloth bags and store in a dry place. they are used in the preparation of infusions, soft drinks, fruit compotes. You can also learn how to cook traditional South American tea mate, that prepared the Indians many centuries ago, using stevia.