Grow your own tea, establishing a patch.

I will now share my knowledge of establishing a tea patch in your farm or garden.

Tea is somewhat of a new crop for the United States which makes it still in the experimental stage.

Though most tea comes from the same species, camellia sinensis, there are hundreds of cultivated varieties that have specific characteristics and ideal growing regions. Therefor it is important to isolate genetics that will perform the best in your growing region.

It is best to start from seed or purchase plants that have been grown from seed. Tea plants started from seed have a tap root which makes them stronger and more resistant to stress and cold. Tea plants from cuttings have no taproot.

Ideal varieties include the cold hardy Russian "Sochi" tea, Japanese, Korean and Chinese varieties. The Indian "Assamica" variety is better suited for warmer climates, zone 9 and above.

The basic steps to establish a healthy tea patch are:

1.) Choose a few different varieties, plant from seed or purchase plants and allow to grow for a few years.

2.) Observe healthiest plants and take cuttings from them. Meanwhile save seeds from the tea plants you want to replicate and plant those.

3.) Water young plants 2-3 times per week during the summer months and mulch during fall and winter.

Plant spacing: 4 feet apart. Plant in rows to form hedges. On hills plant along the hill, not down the slope.
Soil requirements: Plants prefer acidic, mildly sandy, well draining soil.
Sun: Full sun - partial shade. Partial shade grown plants have more tender leaves.
Water: Young plants 2-3 times per week. Established plants two times per month summer, depending on soil.

Planting from seed:

Seeds can be planted any time of year though the ideal time is in the spring. Seeds lose viability quickly so must be stored in a bag in the fridge in a moist paper towel until use.

Soak seeds for 24 hours in pure water. Afterwards, place them in the sun until the outer shell cracks. Another option is to put in the oven at low temperature (monitor closely) to crack the shell.

Plant in pots about 1 inch deep in slightly sandy and acidic soil. I use a mixture of peat moss, sand and composted manure.

Seeds should sprout in 1-3 months. Keep in the partial shade so the young leaves don't burn. Growing in a greenhouse will speed germination and growth. Allow to grow for 1-2 years in a pot until transplanting to the field.

Planting from cuttings:

Take cuttings from healthy, mature plants. The best time for cuttings is late summer when the shoots start to get woody at the base.

Cut at a 45 degree angle at the base of the shoot between the woody and the green portion. Remove the tender tip of the shoot and cut the remaining shoot into individual cuttings. Each cutting will consist of an inch or so of stem with one leaf at the top, all cuts at a 45 degree angle.

Dip in rooting hormone and place in pots with sand and peat moss. Keep moist with mister but not soaking wet or cuttings may rot. Place in a greenhouse, clear plastic bag or anything that will keep in the humidity. Give fresh air an hour per day.

An alternative is to use willow branches for the rooting hormone: blend small branch pieces with water, strain and put in mister. Keep in fridge to prevent spoilage.

From each shoot you can get 3-5 cuttings. Cuttings should take root in 4-6 weeks, sometimes longer.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I may update this post to be more thorough.

Soon I will post an article on how to process your tea leaves to make green, black and oolong.