The galloping development of civilization and easy access to medications from chemical laboratories have overshadowed the benefits of nature. And yet many compounds contained in plants are in no way inferior in strength to their chemical counterparts. When used skillfully, herbs usually do not have a number of possible side effects. One of such wonderful plants, underestimated in Europe, is stevia - an extremely effective and safe natural sweetener. Get to know all theproperties of stevia , see what is theuse of strewiiin home cooking and see whatstevia cultivation looks likew in the home garden or in a pot at home.
Stevia - Stevia rebaudiana
Stevia - properties, application
Within the genussteviathere are over 200 species. Only one of them is widespread in cultivation -Stevia rebaudiana , which contains the most sweeteners. The natural habitat of stevia is South America, in particular the subtropical meadows of Paraguay. The history of human use of this plant is very long, it was known and successfully used over 1500 years ago. Indian tribesalready used stevia to sweetendishes or herbal decoctions.
Among European scientists, the Spanish botanist Pedro Jaime Esteve first became interested in this plant in the 16th century and it was from his name that it was given the current name. Since then, scientists have been undertaking research aimed at understanding the plant, its properties and the possibility ofsteviaapplication in cooking and medicine.
It turned out that glycosides (mainly Stevioside and Rebaudioside-A) are responsible for the sweeteningproperties of stevia , although the plant also contains many other active substances. Some sources provide extremely high sweetening values of plants, which may be due to various properties of the substances contained in it, but it must be assumed that the average value is about 30-50 times the sweetness of sugar. One small, flat teaspoon is enough to sweeten 1 liter of water. The sweetness is found in the whole plant, but the highest content is in the leaves. The drought is much sweeter than the fresh herb.
Research conducted by scientists on theproperties of steviaproves that stevia is very safe for the human body. Much he althier than artificial sweeteners. It is perfect for diabetics as it does not raise the level of sugar in the blood. It also does not have calories, so people with obesity can successfully introduce it into their diet. The sweeteners contained in the stevia are resistant to temperatures up to approx.200 ° C, so they can be used for baking and cooking. They are also not particularly demanding when it comes to pH (3-9 range), so you can season marinades with them.
Dried stevia herb
In the course of research, new beneficialproperties of steviawere discovered, including antibacterial and anti-caries properties. The only disadvantage is the quite characteristic, sweetening aftertaste of stevia preparations, which is caused by stevioside. However, it can be slightly neutralized with the addition of fructose or citric acid.
Unfortunately,steviais a strong competition for popular artificial sweeteners, hence its low popularity in Europe, where it is not allowed to be widely used as a sweetener, but only a dietary supplement. Japan remains the main producer and consumer of stevia preparations, where even light diet drinks are sweetened with it.
Stevia cultivation
We got to know some wonderfulproperties of stevia , and since it will be hard for us to get it in a pharmacy, let's move on to the possibility of growing it in our gardens.
Growing stevia in the garden - position, requirements
Due to its tropical origin, the thermal requirements of stevia are quite high.The garden cultivation of steviashould therefore be carried out in the warmest and sunny place on light, well-drained, moderately fertile soil, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. It should be remembered that the plant is sensitive to both excessive soil moisture and even short-term overdrying. Therefore, thestevia plantshould be well drained, while providing irrigation during periods of drought. We should also remember that the place of stevia cultivation should be sheltered from strong winds, both due to the possibility of maintaining heat and the fragility of quite delicate shoots of the plant.
Stevia in a pot
Steviagrows in the form of a shrub to a height of about 50-80 cm, although there are also taller specimens. It is a good idea to remove the tips of the shoots once a month, which will allow the plant to flourish more. Stevia has a relatively shallow root system, and because it does not tolerate drying, it is worth mulching the substrate around it.
Stevia wintering
Stevia in nature is a perennial plant, but in our climate it should be treated as annual. Only when we have the possibility of winter storage in warmer rooms, which mainly applies to plants grown in containers, is it possible to grow steviafor many years
The room forstevia winter storageshould be bright, at a temperature of approx. 10 ° C. The plant should not be watered too intensively during this period.
Stevia - reproduction, sowing seeds
Stevia is propagatedby seeds or herbaceous cuttings collected in autumn. The seeds have poor germination, so better sow a little more.
Stevia seedsare sown in March or April in boxes in a heated room. In the initial period of germination, stevia requires high temperature (22-25 ° C) and increased air humidity. It sprouts after about two weeks.After high-quality stevia seeds for self-cultivation, visit our guide shop. We offer seeds of a very resistant variety that are hermetically packed. This guarantees the high germination capacity of seeds and the he alth of the obtained seedlings. With these seeds, growing your Stevia yourself will be very easy!
Plant the groundstevia seedlingsonly when the soil is warm enough and there is no risk of frost, i.e. from the second half of May (after the so-calledcold gardeners). Suggested spacing from approx. 60 cm x 10 cm to 70 cm x 25 cm. We do the same with both stevia seedlings from our own seedlings and those purchased in the store. "
How to collect stevia?
Harvest steviaas late as possible, but absolutely before flowering. This is when the sugar content is at its highest. Stevia is a short-day plant and starts flowering in autumn. Once it blooms, the sugar content drops sharply and the harvested material takes on a bitter aftertaste.Stevia is harvestedusually in late September or early October, cutting the stems about 10-15 cm. above the ground. Fresh stevia leaves can be added to salads. The leaves can also be dried and powdered.
Growing stevia in a pot
When we decide that our garden is not the right place for the growth and development of stevia, we may be tempted togrow stevia in a pot , but then also remember about good drainage and keeping the substrate moist.Of course, it also cannot lack enough sun.
Katarzyna Józefowicz
