We recently expanded the number of Tetraploid tea plants on the tea farm but it took some perseverance to get here. We have a section of tetraploid plants that never got planted because we ran out of plants 8 years ago. For our expansion, we needed cuttings and it couldn't just be filled with any old tea plant. We contracted someone 3 years in a row to root cuttings for us (not the same person each year). It was not able to come to fruition. We lost 6 years to that process. 2 years ago, we did our first batch of large scale cuttings ourselves and it was successful. We are putting them out this year and filling in a major...
It is entirely possible to grow the tropical tea plant, Camellia Sinensis to survive in southern freezes. It is most commonly grown in zones 7 - 10 but with some plants growing outside of that zone. Our zone in Brookhaven, Mississippi is a Zone 8b. If you don't know what growing zone you are in for North America quickly go here first. Over the years we have learned a lot about successfully growing tea plants in the unpredictable weather conditions of the South. Temperatures here in the winter months can get into the 20's (-6c) and it does occasionally dip even below that. The coldest day on record in Mississippi is -19F (-28C) experienced in 1966. Now, we did not have tea...
Over the years we have had to master getting our tea seeds to germinate. The below process has worked for us consistently throughout the years and should help you grow new tea plants from seed. Steps to getting your tea seeds to germinate. Plant the seeds in a container, you will need to place them half way in, half way out of the soil. Wet down the soil and cover with something like plastic wrap. The seeds need to be kept in a warm place while they germinate. If you notice the soil drying up, add more water. The goal is to keep them consistently moist but not soggy. Note: Tea seeds do not require light to germinate Can...
Tea, one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, has a rich history spanning centuries. Traditionally grown in cooler regions with moderate climates, tea plants (Camellia sinensis) have adapted to diverse environments, including regions with high temperatures. In this blog post, we will explore the remarkable resilience of tea plants in hot climates and their ability to thrive despite challenging conditions. Adaptations to Heat: Tea plants have developed several physiological and morphological adaptations that enable them to withstand and flourish in hot climates. These adaptations include: Leaf Morphology: Tea plants possess narrow and elongated leaves that help reduce the surface area exposed to sunlight. This leaf shape aids in minimizing water loss through transpiration, a crucial factor in...
Every fall we collect a large number of seed pods from the tea plants to process them for spring. Starting new plants from seeds is the best way to develop new tea plants as they will develop a long tap root. Tea cuttings will create new plants, but they will not establish the long taproot. The longer the tap root the more drought tolerant the plant is and with every tea plant being an investment of time and product, it is important to develop the healthiest of plants. Tea plant seeds start out with a very tough outer shell. We will collect a large number of tea seeds and then set them out in the sun for a period of time...
