Growing Stevia for Market

Growing Stevia for Market

Manual for farmers, greenhouse owners, and market gardeners interested in growing Stevia rebaudiana for profit. Also useful for researchers. Brings together research data from around the world along with author's own experience. Includes list of stevia leaf buyers and other valuable resources.

November 2010 — Stevia rebaudiana is a natural, low-glycemic, low-calorie alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners. It’s also a promising crop suited to a wide variety of climates and soils

Growing Stevia For Market is your complete guide to growing, harvesting, and marketing stevia leaves and bedding plants. Valuable information is compiled from growers, research trials, and the author’s own experience. Includes stevia leaf buyers, sellers, and other resources. Illustrated with 40+ grayscale photos.

Learn about:
• How day length affects stevia leaf yields.
• Propagating from seeds, cuttings, or divisions.
• Field preparation and plant spacing.
• Irrigation, pruning, and pests.
• Yield, income, and expense estimates.
• Harvesting, drying, and marketing stevia.

Author Jeffrey Goettemoeller has been growing and studying stevia for over a decade. In college, he completed a published research study on the production of Stevia seeds

Book Contents
List of Figures – vi
Acknowledgements – viii
Preface – ix
Introduction – 1
1. Climate and Day Length – 7
Plant Hardiness Zones – 7
Perennial or Annual Production – 8
Choosing a Stevia Field Production Cycle – 11
Perennial Production with Winter Dormancy – 11
Photoperiod and Leaf Yield – 15
Sunshine and Glycoside Content – 16
Stevia’s Critical Day Length for Blossoming – 17
Determining Day Length – 19
Field Transplant Timing Above 15° Latitude – 21
Field Harvest Timing Above 15° Latitude – 24
Field Transplant Timing Below 15° Latitude – 27
Field Harvest Timing Below 15° Latitude – 28
2. Plant Propagation – 33
Choosing a Propagation Method – 33
Growing Media – 38
Starting Stevia from Seed – 39
Propagating Stevia from Stem Cuttings – 44
Propagating Stevia with Crown Divisions – 53
Breeding through Selection – 54
3. Field Preparation and Plant Care – 57
Field Location – 57
Soils and Fertilization – 58
Field Tillage – 65
Irrigation – 68
Mulching – 70
Weed Control – 77
Row Covers – 78
Plant Pruning – 82
Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities – 85
Pests and Diseases – 86
4. Field Planting – 93
Planting Density – 93
Transplanting to the Field – 100
5. Harvesting and Postharvest – 103
Cutting and Gathering – 104
Drying Stevia Leaves – 110
Separating Leaves from Stems – 116
Leaf Storage and Shipping – 121
6. Marketing and Economics – 123
Enterprise Budgeting – 124
Selling Dried Leaves Wholesale – 125
Dry Leaf Yields from Small‐Scale Trials – 130
Dry Leaf Yields from Large‐Scale Trials – 131
Selling Dried Leaves Retail – 132
Selling Stevia Plants – 133
Fresh Stevia Leaves – 136
On‐Farm Processing – 138
Appendix 1: Field Trial Summaries – 141
Appendix 2: Stevia Leaf Buyers – 167
Appendix 3: Selected Resources – 169
Glossary – 179
Bibliography – 187
Index – 193
About the Author – 205