How to propagate stevia

Stevia cutting time

There are spring and autumn cuttings. The spring cutting time is from March 20 to the end of April, and the autumn cutting time is from early September to before the beginning of winter. Generally, autumn seedlings are used on a large scale.

Selection of Stevia Cuttings Seedbed

Generally, sandy loam land with flat terrain, fertile soil and convenient drainage and irrigation is chosen. After digging up the prepared seedbed, the soil is initially tidied and then covered with plastic film. The purpose is to kill the pests buried underground and avoid evaporation of water to maintain surface moisture.

Stevia cutting method

On the carefully prepared seedbed, use two thin ropes to fix the distance between the beds on both sides. After cutting a small hole with a knife, insert the prepared seedlings. The depth of the seedlings into the soil should be between 2/3 and 1/2. Then press them tightly. It is best to keep the distance between seedlings at 3.5cm for rows and 1.2cm for plants. After planting, dilute carbendazim with water and water thoroughly. If it is a sunny day, cover the plant with a shade net before eight o'clock.

Stevia cutting management

The first is to replenish water in time. The cuttings tend to wilt in the first few days after grafting and need to be watered.

The second is to spray medicine to prevent diseases. After the first spray, you should spray with fungicide again every two or three days. Once diseased plants are found, they must be pulled out immediately to prevent the disease from spreading.

The third is to provide sunshade and supplementary lighting. Generally speaking, when the maximum daytime temperature is between 15 and 28 degrees Celsius, there is no need to remove the shade net in the first four days after transplanting seedlings. Starting from the fifth day, gradually increase the lighting time. When the temperature is relatively high, you should add a sunshade net, and remove it around five or six in the afternoon. After that, you should gradually shorten the shading time. The seedlings will take root in about ten days after being planted, and no shading is needed after they take root.

Winter management of stevia

When stevia is overwintering, anti-freeze measures should be taken for the surviving seedlings. When the temperature is below 15℃, cover with a film to keep warm. If you are unfortunate enough to encounter a cold wave, you should cover the plants with straw mats at night to prevent the seedlings from being frozen and dying. Make good use of sunny days when the temperature rises to weed and replenish water and fertilizer. Note that when planting seedlings in the spring, in order to prevent low temperatures, they should also be covered with film to increase the survival rate of the plants.