CHILD STEVIA

Child stevia is a perennial herbaceous plant with a height of 48 to 60 cm, characterized by moderately branching and compacted bushes. The stem is light green, covered with short hairs, and the leaves have an elliptical shape, entire margins, and a rich green color. The plant is resistant to diseases, making it resilient to unfavorable growing conditions.

Stevia is known for its sweet taste, which is 10–15 times sweeter than sugar, due to the content of stevioside glycoside (4.5–4.7%). This makes it an ideal natural sugar substitute for dietary nutrition. Leaves can be used fresh or dried, as well as in syrup or extract form.

The vegetative period lasts 75–90 days. Yield of green mass reaches up to 6 kg/m². Sowing is done for seedlings in light, rich, well-drained soil at a temperature of 18–20 °C and constant moisture; drying out and over-wetting should be avoided. Cutting of shoots can begin 16–18 weeks after germination. The recommended planting scheme is 30×30 cm, and the sowing period is in April, followed by seedling transplanting in June. Harvesting is carried out from August to September.