To cut or not to cut? That is the question in first year harvest of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni production

•The cultivation of stevia in a temperate climate depends on its ability to overwinter.•Harvesting stevia in first year decreases its ability to withstand the overwintering.•Yield of most stevia genotypes is significantly reduced if harvested in the first year.•Steviol glycosides content is slightly impacted by the harvest modality.•First year harvest modality negatively impacts steviol glycosides yield until 3 years.