List of Figures

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. Climate and Day Length

• Plant Hardiness Zones

• Perennial or Annual Production

• Choosing a Stevia Field Production Cycle

• Perennial Production with Winter Dormancy

• Photoperiod and Leaf Yield

• Sunshine and Glycoside Content

• Stevia’s Critical Day Length for Blossoming

• Determining Day Length

• Field Transplant Timing Above 15° Latitude

• Field Harvest Timing Above 15° Latitude

• Field Transplant Timing Below 15° Latitude

• Field Harvest Timing Below 15° Latitude

Chapter 2. Plant Propagation

• Choosing a Propagation Method

• Growing Media

• Starting Stevia from Seed

• Propagating Stevia from Stem Cuttings

• Propagating Stevia with Crown Divisions

• Breeding through Selection

Chapter 3. Field Preparation and Plant Care

• Field Location

• Soils and Fertilization

• Field Tillage

• Irrigation

• Mulching

• Weed Control

• Row Covers

• Plant Pruning

• Nutrient Deficiencies and Toxicities

• Pests and Diseases

Chapter 4. Field Planting

• Planting Density

• Transplanting to the Field

Chapter 5. Harvesting and Postharvest

• Cutting and Gathering

• Drying Stevia Leaves

• Separating Leaves from Stems

• Leaf Storage and Shipping

Chapter 6. Marketing and Economics

• Enterprise Budgeting

• Selling Dried Leaves Wholesale

• Dry Leaf Yields from Small‐Scale Trials

• Dry Leaf Yields from Large‐Scale Trials

• Selling Dried Leaves Retail

• Selling Stevia Plants

• Fresh Stevia Leaves

• On‐Farm Processing

Appendix 1: Field Trial Summaries

Appendix 2: Stevia Leaf Buyers

Appendix 3: Selected Resources

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

About the Author