Stevia Rebaudiana: How to grow ...

Stevia rebaudiana is a perennial of the chrysanthemum family which grows in small bushes in sandy soil and in the mountains.Grows up to 80 cm high and has leaves opposite, oblong, with serrated edges, about 5 inches long and 2 wide, the flowers are small and white.
Fertilization and irrigation:It 'easy to grow: in the summer takes place outside, in gardens or on balconies or in a container for plants dropping, the vessel must be well drained, because the stagnant water causing damage to the roots as lead root rot therefore recommend a well-drained soil or, if placed in a pot, remove the saucer during watering to let the water is not retained by the earth. The substrate of medium should be a mixture of peat 60% peat and 40% dark.It should be placed in a sunny or partial shade and never exposed to temperatures below 5 °. In the event must be secured or brought inside. Keep in mind that it can reach a height of 70 to 80 cm.
Flowers:Stevia has hermaphrodite flowers very small, numerous, whitish, pollinated by insects. The bloom is late autumn.Leaves:Its leaves are ovate, opposite. The leaves are dried in the shade if they are used fresh. The higher productivity of the plant has from spring to autumn, with the first cold weather it is advisable to keep the plant indoors, if well exposed to light.At flowering recommend to take the parts to dry (leaves and stems), leaving two nodes for the next vegetation, the leaves dry out leaving them to dry and then grind in a blender or coffee grinder. Can be kept in glass jars and get a natural sweetener, a tablespoon of powder is equivalent to 4-5 tablespoons of sugar.
Diseases:In our experience, the diseases that occur most frequently in the cultivation of Stevia are primarily fungal in nature. There are particular problems in combating these fungi, but it is the Stevia plant generally used for food, both as a fresh product in the form of a powder sweetener, is appropriate not to use pesticides. The same applies to the attack of insects including the prevailing white butterfly and aphids. Following the principles of organic farming, integrated pest management to recommend use alternating administration of natural pyrethrum with the introduction of natural predators.
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