Stevia
Stevia: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Stevia, Stevia rebaudiana, is a plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae, native to part of South America, including Paraguay and Brazil. It is known for the sweet flavour of its leaves, which also gives it the name sweetleaf. A perennial under favourable conditions, it remains sensitive to cold and is often grown as an annual in temperate regions. Its behaviour therefore depends on climate as well as botanical identity.The plant forms a small branching clump with upright stems. Its leaves are green, oval to elongated, with slightly toothed edges. They differ from the very fine leaves of thyme and the broad thick leaves of some other herbs. Their appearance is fairly understated: stevia's main interest is revealed in its flavour rather than a spectacular colour. The density of foliage and height of the stems vary with the specimen and growing conditions.The small white flowers are tubular and gather in loose…
