How to Grow Stevia? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods
Stevia is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family. Its value in use is relatively high, and it can be used in four main areas: food, medicine, feed, and fertilizer. Stevia is a plant introduced into China from Japan. At present, it is mainly cultivated in Beijing, Anhui, Hebei, Shandong, Xinjiang, Yunnan and other places, though of course it is also grown in small amounts in other regions. So how should stevia be planted? What are the cultivation methods? Let us learn about them together below.
1. Soil and Fertilizer Preparation
Stevia has the characteristics of preferring warmth and moisture, tolerating low temperatures, fearing waterlogging, not tolerating standing water, and not being strongly drought-resistant. It is also very sensitive to light, so its longest light exposure is twelve hours. Therefore, the cultivation site generally needs good drainage and should be close to a water source. Next, the soil should be loose and fertile, and the light duration must not exceed twelve hours. Deeply plow the soil and combine this with fertilization. The base fertilizer should mainly be organic fertilizer. Level the ground and open furrows to make beds.
2. Raising Strong Seedlings
When raising seedlings, we need to prepare a seedbed, usually choosing a wind-sheltered, sunny place with convenient drainage and irrigation. The soil of the seedbed is best if it is sandy loam. After preparing the seedbed, a shade shed should be built. Stevia can be planted in all four seasons, and it can be propagated separately by seeds and cuttings. Carry out cutting propagation and seed propagation at a row spacing of five cm and a plant spacing of about two cm. After planting, water promptly and keep warm at night, which can promote seedling emergence and root growth.
3. Transplanting and Field Planting
On the day before pulling up the seedlings for transplanting, we should water once and thoroughly soak the seedbed. The next day, move the seedlings, taking soil with them when moving, and try not to damage the plant roots. It is best to transplant before or after rainfall, as the survival rate of transplanted seedlings will be higher this way. The temperature at planting is generally around twelve to fifteen degrees. For field planting, use a row spacing of forty-five to fifty cm and a plant spacing of fifteen to twenty cm per mu. Generally, the number planted per mu is about ten thousand plants.
4. Field Management
After field planting, water promptly until the plants survive. Usually, water once a day for the first three days, and later water once every week to keep the soil moist. At the same time, we also need to weed promptly according to the growth of weeds in the field, so as to prevent nutrients from being absorbed by weeds and affecting the normal growth of the plants. When the seedlings grow ten to fourteen true leaves, the first pinching back is needed, and at this time the first topdressing is also needed, mainly with urea. The second pinching back, which is also the time for the second topdressing, is generally when the branches grow ten to fourteen true leaves, and urea is still broadcast. Finally, attention should also be paid to preventing damping-off, black spot, and pests such as cutworms and white grubs.
Stevia is not only a medicinal material, but also a food, a feed, and at the same time a fertilizer, so naturally its market value is also quite good. Most importantly, stevia's cultivation method is also very simple, and it is easy to keep alive. If you encounter any problems later, remember to give feedback to the editor in time.