stevia, sweetener not forgotten

A natural no calorie sweetener. Stevia is the answer for diabetics to have the old life back when coffee is so sweet and refreshing.

The other day Aina came and asked for stevia. She took one. I saw money and stevia changing hands while the two were talking. I never ask how much Kakdah charged, because the business side of our garden is in the hands of Kakdah. That's her freedom......

stevia,  at our pasir gudang garden

stevia, 100 polybags

The latest addition to our stevia is 100 seedlings, a different specie to what we had before. The leaves are rounder and bigger. They are in shade now until strong enough to bask under the hot sun! 

........... b a n g c h i k      a n d      k a k d a h ..........

j o h o r

Tanaman dalam pasu: sekali imbas

(First time I put the whole piece in Malay language. Its about growing plants in pots / containers)

Bila orang mahu bergiat dengan tanaman, selesanya jika mula dengan pasu. Disitu kita berjinak, memahami ragam pokok, tanah, air, baja, sinaran matahari, serangga perosak dan cuaca. Kemudian bertambahlah koleksi pokok dan pasu.


Kebanyakan pasu yang kami gunakan adalah jenis plastik sebab ringan dan murah. Pasu seramik pula boleh dibeli dalam pelbagai bentuk, saiz dan warna. Koleksi pasu seramik Kakdah tidak banyak, tidaklah sampai beratus. Namun ada pasu seramik Kakdah yang sangat besar, hingga tak terangkat.



Kami menanam sayur ditanah dan dalam pasu. Pasu tetap menarik, sebab boleh dialih-alih mengikut cuaca dan citarasa.

 pak choy
Pokok ini menarik sebab cepat cambah dan tumbuh. Target awalnya hanyalah untuk peroleh 10 pokok sahaja. Waktu semai, dilebihkan biji benih dalam pasu semaian.., sekitar 5,6 biji dalam satu pasu semaian kecil. Kesemuanya bercambah, dan tidak sampai hati untuk buang anak pak choy yang lebih itu. Tidak mengapa, kami boleh makan pak choy hari-hari, pagi dan petang! Kakdah tidak pula merungut bila kesemua 55 pasu disusun atas railing verandah kiri dan kanan.

(foto dua hari lalu)

pak choy,  dalam pasu 4 inci.  semuanya 55 pasu.

(foto hari ini, gambar jam 5.30ptg.

 hari ini Kakdah selang selikan pasu, 
katanya kerana daun dah memanjang,
bersentuhan antara satu sama lain. 
Itulah fleksibiliti tanam sayur dalam pasu.

Stevia

Asalnya ada tiga pokok sahaja yang dibeli dari sebuah nurseri di Kelantan, RM5.00 satu.  Kami berterusan melakukan percambahan. Kini ada hampir 100 anak stevia. Target masih tidak berubah, iaitu 1000 anak stevia dalam tempuh setahun.

Salah satu pokok stevia hasil percambahan, dauntenya manis macam gula.

tomato

Ini cubaan pertama di Tanah Merah, dengan tomato cherry. Benih diambil dari lebihan tomato yang Kakdah guna untuk masakan.  Semainya banyak, yang nak ditanam cuma dua sahaja, jadi selebihnya letak dalam polybag hitam. Setakat ini yang dalam polybag pula lebih subur dari dalam pasu.

anak tomato dalam pasu seramik besar

anak tomato yang lebih, ada 5 semuanya. sebagai spare.

daun sup

daun sup

Ada banyak lagi sayur dan pokok dalam pasu, Antaranya sambung nyawa, mulberry, kucai, kangkong, kunyit, halia, bawang putih, bawang merah, pudina, oregano, basil, dan macam-macam lagi. Saja wujudkan hijau di sekitar rumah, untuk sedikit keselesaan dalam hutan konkrit, dan untuk segarkan nostalgia pernah hidup dalam kehijauan suatu masa dulu.

                  bangchik dan kakdah,  tanah merah, kelantan.                                    

Growing Stevia: a sweet adventure

I thought sweet Stevia had been overly priced. They didn't look too healthy. Anyway we bought 3 pots at a price of RM5 each at Felda Kemahang nursery on 26th of December 2010. We tried to propagate right away. After a month one had rooted. To get back the investment of RM15, I needed another two cuttings to sprout roots and grow. Now we have 10 tiny seedlings, and another 50 in the pipeline.

One of the three mother plants

 Stevia has a drooping habit, 

and new shoots try to straighten.

A simple technique indeed, cut a stem with a few nodes and place in water. Wait until there is enough roots to transfer into pot.

The first baby Stevia propagated

baby stevia

baby stevia

baby stevia

References mention about good practice to cut off flowers, because flowering is an indication that stevia is about to dry up and die.  So we keep cutting back branches with flowers, and propagate. What we know about Stevia  is only through reading.  And that doesn't stop us from planning to propagate more, setting a target of 1000 plants by middle of next year.

bangchik and kakdah

Tanah Merah

Notes on Stevia

What is stevia?

Stevia is a small shrub like perennial plant which belongs to sunflower (Asteraceae) family. It is also known as Eupatorium rebaudianum, sweetleaf, honeyleaf and sugarleaf, and sweet herb of Paraguay. The leaves of Stevia are a source of natural zero-calorie sweetener which is considered sweeter than sugar (sucrose). It has been used in South and Central America , Japan and many other parts of the world as a sugar substitute and in the treatment of a number of health conditions for centuries. Initially the leaves of Stevia were consumed fresh or dried but eventually chemists isolated the glycosides called stevioside and rebaudioside from its leaves that give stevia its sweet taste. Stevia also contains phytonutrients, trace elements, minerals, vitamins and volatile oils which give Stevia its nutritional and medicinal properties. In 2008, FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) approved sweetener derived from the herb stevia as safe for use in foods and beverages. The steviols glycosides are now used in herbal supplements, foods and beverages, and as sweetening powders and syrups. Unlike other sweeteners, Stevia can be used in baking and cooking and its lesser amount is ample.(click here for more:  Health Benefits of Stevia    www.homeremediesweb.com )

What are the benefits of Stevia

A number of studies show that Stevia can be beneficial in the treatment of many health conditions. Stevia is believed to have anti-bacterial, anti-septic, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-glycemic, and anti-hypertensive properties which may help with hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, chronic fatigue, indigestion, upset stomach, heartburn, weight loss, cold and flu, gingivitis, tooth decay, cavities, dandruff and hair loss, brittle bones or osteoporosis, streptococcus, candidiasis, bacterial infections and skin conditions such as cuts, wounds, rashes, itchiness, blemishes, acne, seborrhoeic dermatitis, dermatitis, eczema, and wrinkles. It may also improve energy levels, strengthen immune system, stimulate mental activity, and may also help in withdrawl from tobacco and alcohol addiction. (click here for more:  (click here for more:  Health Benefits of Stevia    www.homeremediesweb.com )   

references:

• Stevia Information - Growing Your Own Stevia www.stevia.com
• HOW TO GROW STEVIA agrobiosolution
• STEVIA REBAUDIANA stevia-gec.blogspot.com
• Pokok Stevia @ Pokok Gula tip-untuk-semua.blogspot.com 
• Stevia, prospects as an emerging sweetener Veena Sharma