subject: Stevia Plants Bring The Sweetness Straight Into Your Home. [print this page] Originally used by the Native Indians of northern South America, stevia plants and their incredible sweetness have literally found their way around the globe. As a perennial shrub, the stevia herb is quite adaptable, having been successfully grown in, amongst others: South Africa, Australia, Japan, China, the United States, Canada and even in some parts of England. Japan was one of the first countries that green-lit the cultivation, processing and manufacturing of stervia seeds, crops and products in 1970.
Since natural scientist Antonio Bertoni first recorded their usage by native tribes in 1887, stevia plants have been studied at length. There are nearly 300 species of this plant, of which only the Stevia Rebaudiana is unique in that the glycosides in its leaves contain up to 10% Stevioside. This is what produces the amazing sweetness.
The numerous health benefits associated with the stevia herb have prompted not only commercial cultivation. Many of the health conscious are looking at nurseries for stevia seeds. There are also numerous suppliers world wide, and they will ship you any amount of seeds by order. What should be kept in mind though, is the importance of preserving and protecting the natural gene pool to ensure sustainability and quality.
When you decide to grow your own stevia plants, you should realize that the raw product lacks the potency of the refined white stevia powder. Although you will not end up with a replacement 300 times sweeter than cane sugar, you will have enough stevia leaves to complement your purchased supply of stevia sweeteners.
Dont plant the young seeds out in the garden until the soil temperatures are in the high 50s or low 60s. Young and tender plants are very sensitive to low temperatures. Be careful not to give your stevia herb too much water and see to it that there is some form of water drainage system. The feeder roots are quite shallow, so you could protect them from exposure and damage by simply putting a handful of compost around the base of each plant. This would be beneficial to nutrient absorption as well. If all goes well, your stevia bushes should grow up to 30 tall and 24 wide. The second harvest generally yields much more than the first. A third harvest from the same plant is not advised. Therefore, a good idea would be to plant new seeds each season for optimal production.
The longer you can hold off on harvesting your stevia leaves, the sweeter they will be, but be sure to harvest them before they start to blossom! Cooler temperatures will benefit the quality, so consider covering them up until as deep into autumn as possible. You can cultivate your stevia crops outdoors, but they do just as well indoors, potted or hydroponically grown. Versatile and as of yet, very much underrated, stevia plants are set to take the world by storm.
