HOW TO GROW STEVIA PLANTS

Growing of Stevia plant is not an easy task. Stevia is considered as a difficult herb to grow, but it has proved to be quite adaptable and capable of being cultivated in climate zones as diverse as Florida and southern Canada. 

If you are growing stevia for the first time keep in mind that it does well in containers. It can be used as a ground powder or liquid in baking or in desserts. If you are planning to grow it inside surface sow seed 8 weeks before the last frost date. Germinate them using gentle bottom heat. It is very necessary to provide good drainage and overwatering should be avoided. After all risk of frost is overcome plant the stevia plants outside but 8 inches apart into a full sun location. If you wish to over winter the plants inside, remove the plants from your garden before the temperature drops below 10 degrees C. Use containers to grow these plants for best results. Leaves can be used (fresh or dried) directly in hot drinks. The length of the plants should be 24 inches.

 The complete procedure of growing stevia is explained below –

1.   Sowing of Seeds - It is best to propagate stevia plants from cuttings or tissue culture from a successful plant. Germination success of stevia plant from seed normally has a very low percentage. Sometimes the percentage is only 10%. The increase in germination success percentage depends on the selection of the seeds. If we select dark seeds and plant only those seeds - germination should exceed to 85%. Sweetness of stevia depends on the type of seeds we are using.

2.   Care and Growing - Stevia should be planted in the spring after the soil temperature reaches 65 deg F., in full sun and in a light, sandy, open, well drained soil with neutral pH. Fertilizer should be of standard quality for better results. To keep roots cool, preserve water, keeps the leave clean from soil (prevents dirty taste in green powder) and hold down weeds apply a layer of mulch, such as grass clippings, or bark mulch. Avoid weeding around mature stevia plants as their branches are brittle and can be easily broken. Overwatering should be avoided after transplanting and in winter as houseplant. Keep evenly moist during summer heat. Drip or soaker hose are very effective for summer watering.

3.   Harvesting – It is recommended to harvest entire plant as flower buds appear. Harvest only in the morning for highest sugar content, whether pinching tips or harvesting entire plants. The full harvest season will occur in late September or early October. Harvesting is done by cutting the entire plant at the base. With a rubber band, tie loose branches together and hang upside down to dry under warm, dark, drafty conditions for 2-4 days. Usage of food dehydrators should be avoided or open oven doors as this will also tend to cause a bitter flavor. Remove all the small branches and grind leaves into powder using an electric coffee grinder for 25-30 seconds. The final product is ready for usage.

STEVIA – A SWEET MEDICINE

Stevia plant is best known as a source of natural sweeteners. It is mainly found in South America. Native people in South America have used stevia as a sweetener for hundreds of years. Apart from a sweetener it is also an herbal medicine. 

Properties of Stevia –

1.   Antibacterial

2.   Antifungal

3.   Anti-inflammatory

4.   Anti-microbial

5.   Anti-viral

6.   Cardio tonic

7.   Diuretic

8.   Hypoglycemic

Due to its extraordinary properties stevia is a boon to the people who are suffering from diabetes. The leaves of stevia plant contain diterpene glucosides with a sweet taste but which are not metabolized and contain no calories.

Uses of Stevia Plant –

1.   It is a natural sweetener.

2.    Stevia can also be used as a flavoring to sweeten recipes, and it will not caramelize, brown or crystallize as sugar will. So the recipe will be more perfect.

3.   In the fresh state stevia leaves can be directly used for making tea and coffee.

4.   Their extract and powder can be used in various recipes.

5.   Stevia plants are a healthy sweetening agent for diabetics and other people who are very concerned about the sugar intake.

6.   It is helpful in improving dental health, treating bleeding gums and other teeth problems.

7.   As stevia plants are enriched with various nutrients it is beneficial for the skin and hair.

8.   Stevia has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, so application of fresh leaves or extracts of stevia plants helps in quick healing of cuts and wounds.

9.   As stevia contains 0 calories it will be very effective in weight control.

More Advantages of Stevia –

·         It is a non synthetic product.

·         It can be used in its natural state.

·         Due to its more power, a very less quantity is required.

·         It is non – toxic in nature

·         It enhances the flavor of any recipe.

·         It is non-fermentative in nature.

·         It does not have any bitterness.

·         It is clinically tested and do not have many side effects.

Side Effects of Stevia –

1.   Allergy - Stevia might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae /Compositae family of plants.

2.   Lowers the blood sugar - Some of the chemicals contained in stevia might lower blood sugar levels and could interfere with blood sugar control. So it is very important to regularly monitor the sugar level if you are using stevia plant.

3.   Lowers the blood pressure – Some of the chemicals that are present in stevia might cause blood pressure to drop too low in people who have low blood pressure. So if you are having a low blood pressure problem consult your doctor before using stevia.

Accurate dose of Stevia –

The appropriate dose of stevia depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. Always keep one thing in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and so the dosage is very important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Short Description- Stevia is an extraordinary sweet herb, obtained by a natural selective breeding process of the sweetest Stevia parent plants. It is interesting to note that the dried leaves of Stevia are about 40 times sweeter than sugar.

Stevia Plants- their plantation and use

Stevia Plants are used for making powder or is used as refined plants for sweetening purposes. The plant can be cultivated easily if it is provided with moistened fine soil and the seeds are left to germinate for two to three weeks. The seed should be left for germination at not more than 2 or 3 mm. care is needed for proper growth of SteviaPlants. A Stevia Plant is sensitive to cold and demands proper watering and conditions for proper growth. A  Stevia Plant can be grown on dry soil and is sensitive o sun. proper growth is achieved by exposing the plant to the sun. One condition that is very necessary for the proper growth of plant is the presence of phosphates in the soil. The plants growth Is considered as slow as compared to other plants. The Harvesting of the plant can be done for five times in a year if the plant is given proper care and watering. After each harvest, the plant should be cut at ground level and the harvest of five times in a year can be done for six years from the growth of the Stevia Plant. The plant can be regenerated for six years from the time it is grown and grows up a meter when harvesting is required. The total dry weight of the full grown plant is 70 gm and the leaves of the plant weigh 15 to 35 gm.

Precautions with Stevia Plants

The plant was earlier considered as Toxic and the credit goes to the Japanese for proving that the plant is not toxic and the discovery has enabled other countries also in using the plant for food additives. Some countries that include Canada have yet not legalized the used of Stevia Plants extract for food additive purposes. The worries of several nations are not entirely baseless. The use of the Stevioside extracts injures the reproduction and potential threat of Carcinogenic diseases is there which worry the health authorities. The Stevia Plant is used as high abortive plants. And the doses are considered as high doses. After studying the reports, the World Health Organization gave its verdict on 2006 that the use of Stevia Plants has no negative effect and does not hampers reproduction or it is also not carcinogenic. The safe daily use of the Stevia Plant Extracts is set at 10 mg for every kg of the body weight. This means that the limit for a person weighing 70 kg is 700 mg. this signifies that the people who consume Stevia Leaf extracts or the Stevia Plant powder, the limit of consumption is 50mg per kg and 3500 mg of the extract is the limit that can be taken by the humans.

Diabetes and Stevia

People who suffer from type 2 diabetes can consume the extracts of the SteviaPlants for controlling their diabetes but should also check their body glucose regularly for deciding on their medication. For taking Stevia Plant Extract, regular check on the blood pressure is necessary for the diabetic people.

STEVIA PLANT: A SWEET BOONE

All about stevia plants:

Presently Stevia Plants are used in many different products instead of sugar as the dried leaves of stevia are 40 times sweeter than the much known sucrose. The cultivation of stevia basically started in Brazil and Paraguay.

DIFFERENT FORMS OF STEVIA PLANTS AND THEIR USES:

This herb is used in different forms for different uses.

a.       The very much common form of Stevia Plant found today in market is the dried leaf powder which is not soluble. It is widely used in sugar tablets and considered as the less sweet form of Stevia Plant.

b.      The other form which is around 200-300 times sweeter than the sucrose comes as refined Stevia Plants. This form is a white powder which is soluble in nature and is better to use instead of the artificial sweeteners.

c.       To use Stevia Plant as a sweetener you can use the tablet form of it.

d.      The form which is available with various degrees of purity is a very dark coloured liquid.

CULTIVATION-STEVIA PLANT:

The seed of the Stevia Plant should be buried inside the soil not very deep. The soil on which it is to be cultivated has to be moistened and fine. The seed will start germinating in 14-20days which should be kept away from cold conditions. This plant likes to be watered more often, can survive in sunny atmosphere and grows even in bad soil if taken care of; usually it grows up to a meter. The Stevia Plants require phosphate and in winters it can be treated as geranium.

If harvesting is done by cutting the plant from the ground level in proper manner, for a period of six years harvesting can be done five times in a year. The dry leaves of stevia are 15 to 35 grams per plant when weighed.

SAFE GAURD WITH STEVIA PLANT:

The stevioside obtained from Stevia Plants are considered toxic and bad for human health but scientists claim that they have tested it potentially and found no harm if the extract of the plant is used as sweeteners. As the controversy continues, country like Canada has still not approved the use of steviosides.

In the year 2006, the World health organization concluded that the extract stevioside is not harmful to the reproduction system of human beings and do not have carcinogenic effects. Although it is now proved about its adversities, still pregnant women and mothers who are on medication should not consume steviosides. The stevioside does not help in tooth decay as several tests are being conducted on animals.

STEVIA FOR DIABETICS:

For the diabetics who have symptoms of hypertension and hypotension and take the steviosides should regularly get their glucose level and blood pressure checked. The medication changes accordingly and helps in lowering down the sucrose level.

The Stevia Plant have after taste that is bitter and is somewhat like that of licorice. The powdered form is mixed with a liquid to have less bitter taste; this liquid comes in different flavor like vanilla, mint etc.

Plantings Your Stevia Plants

Brief introduction to the Stevia

 The main advantage of Steviaplant is that it can replace sugar (sucrose) mainly used as the table sugar, pastries, pickles, yoghurt etc. South America need not be the only successful Stevia grower; instead this plant has proved adaptable and capable of being cultivated in climate as discrete as Florida or Southern Canada.  Home grown Stevia may lack the efficiency of the refined white Stevia, the general range of whole Stevioside content is form 81 to 91 percent when compared to leaf is approximately 12 percent.

Start Your Own Stevia Plantation Patch

You need to have a fairly smooth, firm planting surface which has been cultivated before. Even if you do not have such a land you can always start from the scratch by making your land smooth by ploughing it to make it smooth. Then plant your seeds into them and leave them to germinate. Always remember not all Stevia plants are created equal in terms of the Stevioside   content, therefore it is better to see if the plants you are buying have been cultivated from cuttings whose parent has high Stevioside. As tender young Stevia plants are sensitive to low temperatures you have to wait till the frost is gone and the soil temperatures are high before you transplant them into your garden.

Plant your Stevia in rows 20 to 25 inches apart, leaving around 18 inches between plants, as the plants grow to a height of about 30 inches  and 18 to 23 inches in width

Take proper care of your Stevia

For your Stevia to grow properly you should avoid extremely cold and hot temperatures, instead grow them in a moderate climate. These plants grow best in rich, loamy soil, same as that of the plants which we grow in our garden. If your soil is sandy, add extra nutrients near their roots.

See that the roots are not affected with abundant of moisture, therefore avoid over watering them which makes the soil soggy. Most organic fertilizers work well on these plants as they release nitrogen slowly.

 Protect your Stevia from weeds and pest

Steviaplants require hand cleaning and weeding. You need to protect your plant from cutworms mainly, whereas insect pest pressure is less. It is important to protect your crop from Septoria disease as it causes tremendous damage to the plant.

Harvesting

Harvesting can be done late, as the cool temperatures and shorter days boost the sweetness of the plants as they advance into the reproductive state. But be sure that you should not expose them to frost.

When you want to harvest your Stevia, the easiest way is to cut off the branches off excluding the shears before taking off the leaves.

Unseal the Sweetness of your harvest

Once you gather all your leaves, you need to dry them. Spread them on the net. Good air circulation is required for the leaves to dry. Although sun drying is well preferred, home dehydrator can be used as well.

Now, finally crush the dry leaves, revealing Stevia sweetened powder. This can be done either by hand or a coffee grinder for better results.

Stevia Plant And its Uses

All about Stevia Plants

Stevia plant is one of the best possible natural sweeteners available in the market. This sweetener is more effective than the artificial sweeteners that are present in the market in abundant quantity. These natural sweeteners are better in quality and health aspects than other types of sweeteners. The Stevia plant is available online as well as offline for sale in different types of formations. They come in tablet form, powder form, liquid form and dried leaf form. Any form of the Stevia plant is more soluble and sweeter than the artificial sweetener or sugar. They can be two three times sweeter than the artificial sugar or can be 200-300 times sweeter depending upon the form you are talking about. The plant has widespread use in the health and medicine industry due to its inability to alter the blood glucose level. It has been recommended by a number of government authorities as a natural sweetener all over the world due to the same characteristic as mentioned earlier.

The plant and its uses

The Stevia plant is generally referred as sweet leaf, sweet leaf or sugar leaf in different countries as per different languages. The plant derives these names as it has been traditionally used as a natural sweetener by the people in many countries.  However, it is now becoming popular in a many countries due to the fact that it is a natural substitute to the artificial sweeteners. It is also employed as a dietary supplement in many countries. The Steviaplants have shown positive effect on the patients suffering from hypertension and obesity. It has been a magical item for all those diabetic patients and people who were on diet control and who were dependent on the artificial sweeteners. It has also been claimed that Stevia has the capability of increasing or enhancing the blood glucose tolerance in the body. The plant is very useful and feature rich.  It is being cultivated in a host of countries with China being the largest producer and exporter of Stevia plants. To sum up its benefits in one line, it has induced sweetness in the life of people love sweetness but is afraid of Sugar.

The market

The market is always full of Stevia plants and the associated products. It has different variety and category of the Stevia plant on offer. You can buy this awesome plant online as well. There are many websites who sell this plant. You can also order this plant in bulk. The largest exporter and hence the largest market for stevia plant is China. There are many dietary supplements and products which are manufactured with Stevia. Stevia leave is available as a food item in many countries while others treat it as dietary or health supplement. However, Stevia plants are one of the numerous herbs that are vital to the development of medicinal science. The Stevia plant a natural sweetener and has very negligible and limited adverse effects. And that is why, it is the best choice.

Stevia Plants – Natural herb for you

SteviaPlants are special kind of plants which are used for adding flavors to the food items and also used as a sweetener. These plants are found in some part of South America and Japan. These days this plant is getting very popular in Europe, Canada and United States of America. The main use of Stevia Plant is to use it as a sweetener. This sweetener material is fifteen times sweeter than sugar. It is also low calorie and highly nutrient sweetener available. These plants are grown from seed and need plenty of sunshine to grow. That is why Stevia Plants are found in countries of South America. This is basically used as a supplement for the sugar and used as ingredients in the products where sugar is required. It is mainly used in cola drinks, sugar less gum, sugar biscuits and so on. There is a special quality of Stevia Plant that it is heat resistant, therefore it can be used in baking also. Stevia Plants also have some medical benefits also. It has antioxidants which is useful for building up immunity in human body. It is also useful in the treatment of hypertension, obesity and bacterial infections also. In the 19^th century this plant was used as a herb for sweetening purpose and to enhance the flavor of food. Dr M S Bertoni did some researches also about this plant and came to know that this plant is very much useful for human beings. The SteviaPlant is processed in the industries and extract of this plant is used as a final product. Color and incense is removed to make it neutral. It is used as a powder or even as a liquid also in the preparation of food. It is also used in the manufacturing of soft drinks also.

Features

SteviaPlants are very useful for medical purpose. These are used as antibiotics also. This herb provides a large number of benefits ranging from an alternative of sugar to an important medicine for the healthy body. It is very helpful for diabetic’s patients also. It works as an alternative for sugar hence helps in lowering down the sugar level in the diabetic’s patients. It also help in weight loss activity as it has very low sugar content it helps very much in losing the body weight.

Other Content

Stevia Plant also helps in preventing tooth decay as it has very low sugar content to deal with. It also prevents yeast infections. There are major steps which are to be considered while planting these plants to come up with a great result in terms of quality and quantity both. These plants are not very much used to cold. So there should be proper amount of temperature and sunlight available for their growth. Plantation should not be overcrowded. It means there should me enough space between the plants so that they can get enough amount of sunlight for their healthy grow. You should put some water on daily basis in summers and provide some nitrogen based fertilizers to make them grow efficiently