Stevia

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Stevia (Latin Stevia) - a genus of perennial grasses and shrubs of the Asteraceae family, or Astrovye. Includes about 150 species. Natural range - Central and South America. Typical habitats are plains, slopes and mountainous areas.

Characteristics of culture

Stevia is a herb, shrub or shrub up to 80 cm high. Lateral stems are numerous. The root system is powerful, fibrous, highly branched. Leaves are simple, paired, oval, pubescent on both sides. The flowers are small, white in color. The culture has been known since ancient times, for several thousand years it has been used as food and as a medicinal plant.

Other names are honey or sweet herb. Stevia was introduced into the culture in 1887. Plants contain a complex substance - stevioside, which is why the leaves taste sweet. Stevia also contains sucrose, glucose and steviol. It is an alternative to sugar, but more useful and suitable for the nutrition of diabetics and obese people.

The subtleties of cultivation and reproduction

Stevia comes from southern countries, so sunny areas protected from drafts and wind are preferred for its cultivation. The optimum temperature for growth and development is 22-28C. Soils are desirable light, loose, slightly acidic, sandy or sandy loam. Heavy clay substrates are not suitable, however, with good drainage, cultivation of a crop on such soils is possible. He does not accept stevia from peat soils, he feels oppressed on them. Lime soils are also contraindicated.

Stevia is propagated by seeds, dividing the bush and cuttings. In Russia, stevia is grown as an annual seedling. Sowing is carried out at the end of March in seedling containers filled with nutrient soil with the addition of sand and humus. The seeds are sown without embedding, after which they are well moistened and covered with glass or plastic wrap.

With the emergence of seedlings, the glass or film is removed, and the seedlings are placed on a windowsill or other intensely lit place. The dive of seedlings is carried out with the appearance of two true leaves on them. Seedlings are systematically watered and fed weekly with complex mineral fertilizers.

Seedlings are planted in the ground at the end of May. The distance between the plants should be at least 25 cm. The depth of the planting hole is 6-7 cm. After planting, watering with warm, settled water and mulching of the rows are carried out. Further care is reduced to frequent watering and feeding (once every two weeks). Weeding and loosening are required.

Application

Stevia is a useful and safe product; today the plant is used in cooking and folk medicine. Stevia is used in salads, pickles, soft drinks, hard candy, chewing gum, confectionery, yogurt, tea, and even soy sauce.

As a medicine, stevia has a number of miraculous properties. She copes with many ailments, for example, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, hyperthornia, allergies of various kinds, bronchitis, gout, asthma, kidney disease, psoriasis and depression.