When Are Tea Seeds Ready for Harvest? 

Growing tea isn’t just about the leaves—we can also learn a lot from the seeds. Tea seeds are the starting point for the next generation of tea plants, and knowing when they’re ready to harvest is key for anyone interested in propagation or understanding the full life cycle of Camellia sinensis.

The Life of a Tea Seed

Tea plants typically begin producing seeds once they’ve reached maturity, often around 3–5 years old. In late summer through fall, small white flowers bloom across the bushes. After pollination, these flowers develop into seed pods that slowly ripen over the next several months.

By late fall into early winter, the pods mature and are ready to be collected. Each pod usually contains one to three round, brown seeds that resemble little chestnuts.

Signs Tea Seeds Are Ready to Harvest

Here are the key indicators growers look for:

• Color Change – Immature pods are green, but as they ripen, they turn a light brown or tan shade.

• Pod Splitting – When fully mature, the pod begins to naturally crack open, revealing the seeds inside.

• Seed Appearance – Good seeds are plump, smooth, and dark brown. If they look shriveled or pale, they may not be viable.

• Timing – Depending on climate, this usually happens from late October through December in the Northern Hemisphere.

How to Collect Tea Seeds

1. Watch for Natural Drops – Ripe pods may fall to the ground on their own. Collect them quickly before insects or moisture damage them.

2. Hand-Picking – If pods are splitting on the bush, gently twist or clip them off.

3. Immediate Use – Tea seeds lose viability quickly once dried out, so they should be planted soon after harvest for the best germination rates.

Why Harvest Tea Seeds?

Most commercial tea farms use cuttings for propagation to preserve the exact traits of each cultivar. However, seeds are still valuable for:

• Breeding new cultivars with unique flavors or climate tolerance.

• Preserving genetic diversity of Camellia sinensis.

• Educational or small-scale growing projects.

When do we harvest our seeds at the farm here in Mississippi?

We usually harvest our seeds in late September or October. 

Do we sell seeds on the farm?

Some seasons, yes we do. Some years we import seeds to get some plant diversity into the fields. Check back into our store in the winter months to see if we have seeds available.