Tea Growing

I have three specimens growing now. About 3-4 years old if I remember correctly when I planted them. I started with seeds from an online vendor and had fairly low germination rates which I find is typical. One is allowed to grow strong, the other two are going to become personal bonsai for myself. Certainly not enough to produce much more than a single gaiwan's worth of first flush... and I've yet to really pick/process any leaves as the they are still far too small and immature. I do get some nice sized leaves though and I've had a few that I knocked off by accident, I do a quick drying process and make a small cup... nothing special for sure.

I live in PA which is not really optimal for Camellia Sinensis, but I do have a greenhouse off of my home which works out well for about 75% of the year and then my garage becomes their home.

- Dominic

Hi folks, Well I guess the subject is one I am very interested in. I bought some seeds from an online vendor and have planted 6 seeds. I have heard it takes maybe 3 months or so for germination. It is not 3 months yet but I dont have a tiny bit of green yet. I live in coastal So. Texas which is prime growing region for many things. I do not know anyone who knows anything about growing camellia sinensis down here. I think I can grow pretty good, I am still harvesting (today 8) tomatoes from my 2 fall planted outdoor plants, and my special bluebonnet garden is blooming all the "marroon" varieties at the present.(this is amaZing for me so early in the year, but mother nature gave us this weather this year) SO I have high hopes for the plants. Dominic, can you tell me if you scratched your seeds before planting? My seeds were a pod (pea-size) with a nut like center bean thing. Did it take 3 months to sprout? I hear all over the southern states, (not here tho) regular camellias are very abundant. Maybe they are similar is growing but I am not sure. And I think there are tea gardens in the Carolinas, how productive I am not sure tho. I do like to "grow" stuff that I will eat but I do not have illusions that I would ever harvest tea leaves but...It is a challlenge and if I get a few leaves, well I will feel GREAT!

Sorry for not signing.. Jenn With red robe in my cup and loving it it mucho!

Jenn,

Where did you buy your seeds? Is it possible to buy small trees?

In case you are not familiar with the Garden Website forum, there is a subforum on Camellia. Here is the link:

Good luck growing!

Regards,

Alt> Hi folks,

Jenn,

Try this link:

They have several types of tea plants for sale.

Alton

Alt> Jenn,

In the days of the Lipton Tea Research station in SC - now Charleston Tea Farm, they had trials outstations in California and Mississippi and (from memory) in Texas too - all gave good results. What tea requires to really flourish is:

- free draining soil of at least 5 ft depth

- acid soil of pH 5 or below

- rainfall of at least 60" a year

- high humidity

- night temperatures above 55 deg F, day temperatures below 90 deg F

- correct pruning

With these conditions it grows like weeds - without them it is a very fickle plant.

Commercial tea is no longer planted from seed as this gives too variable a crop and depresses yield and quality. Plants are raised from cuttings and transplanted to the field at 6-12 months old. We are pioneering machine transplanting in Hawaii using a system that puts in irrigation pipe, plastic mulch and 500 plants per hour in just one pass of the tractor - the rest of the world plants by hand. I have done my share of that and it's back breaking work when there's

200 acres to plant!. Hobby growing from tea seed is fraught with disappointment as most commercial seed is too old when you buy it. Tea is a tropical crop and the seed only has a few weeks viability, it also germinates slowly (6-8 weeks) and must be kept wet and warm and dark while it does so. I have raised plants at home from fresh gathered seed but have never succeeded from vendor's seed. One tip to check seed (an old tea planter's trick) is to put your seed into water - floaters are alreadt dry and dead so no good, those that sink have a chance.

Nigel at Teacraft

Hey Nigel,

Where at exactly in Hawaii? I will be traveling to Kauai i in a few months and I'd love to visit a tea field there especially to do some photography and of course maybe sample a cup of local tea.

Yes, the sink/float test is a must and out of approx. 15-20 seeds (two packets) I had 8 good ones which yielded three sprouts. The upside was that they were not expensive (about $8 for two packs) and I bought them here:

I will try the deeper soil as the one that I want to grow for propagation is only in about 2ft of soil now and I'l have to test the ph but I think I'm close there. Thanks for the info!

- Dominic