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Tea Growing
Tea Growing
Hello All,
Does anyone grow tea, as a hobby? I live in southwest Ohio / USA, not
sure if the climate here is suitable. I heard of a guy in northern Ohio
(west of Canton) that grows tea, but did not get much information in the
article as to the "how to's". A link to the article ...
http :// ourohio.org/index.php?page=in-mint-condition
I have read that people have planted Camellia sinensis, but after
several years, they are only a couple of feet tall.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards,
Alton
Hello All,
Does anyone grow tea, as a hobby? I live in southwest Ohio / USA, not
sure if the climate here is suitable. I heard of a guy in northern Ohio
(west of Canton) that grows tea, but did not get much information in the
article as to the "how to's". A link to the article ...
http :// ourohio.org/index.php?page=in-mint-condition
I have read that people have planted Camellia sinensis, but after
several years, they are only a couple of feet tall.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards,
Alton
Re: Tea Growing
The guy you mention in Ohio is Dante Tropea and he grows mint (of very
good quality) for herbal tea but it is not the true Camellia sinensis,
nor would his methods help with growing true tea. Nevertheless, C.
sinensis tea can certainly be grown in parts the USA and my company in
currently involved with growing tea in SC and HI. Given the right
conditions it will thrive in USA even on a hobby basis. Properly
trained for tea production 24" is about right for two years' growth -
36" is ideal for a mature bush and some of those around the world are
still at 36" height after 80-100 years - it's the best height for
harvesting (excluding the vanishingly rare "monkey plucked bushes").
Teacraft has specialized in marginal or fringe tea growing and
production for many years - in unlikely countries with unusual
problems - USA, Hawaii, Pakistan, UK, Rep. of Georgia, Turkey,
Colombia, Ecuador, Australia, South Africa, etc. We can advise on any
new commercial ventures envisaged, particularly in the USA.
Unfortunately our consultancy has to be charged for, which eliminates
most (but not all) hobby growers, though in my experience the hobby
often becomes an obsession.
Nigel at Teacraft
On Feb 14, 11:47 am, "Alton B. Wilson" <awils...@cinci.rr,com > wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> Does anyone grow tea, as a hobby? I live in southwest Ohio / USA, not
> sure if the climate here is suitable. I heard of a guy in northern Ohio
> (west of Canton) that grows tea, but did not get much information in the
> article as to the "how to's". A link to the article ...
>
> http :// ourohio.org/index.php?page=in-mint-condition
>
> I have read that people have planted Camellia sinensis, but after
> several years, they are only a couple of feet tall.
>
The guy you mention in Ohio is Dante Tropea and he grows mint (of very
good quality) for herbal tea but it is not the true Camellia sinensis,
nor would his methods help with growing true tea. Nevertheless, C.
sinensis tea can certainly be grown in parts the USA and my company in
currently involved with growing tea in SC and HI. Given the right
conditions it will thrive in USA even on a hobby basis. Properly
trained for tea production 24" is about right for two years' growth -
36" is ideal for a mature bush and some of those around the world are
still at 36" height after 80-100 years - it's the best height for
harvesting (excluding the vanishingly rare "monkey plucked bushes").
Teacraft has specialized in marginal or fringe tea growing and
production for many years - in unlikely countries with unusual
problems - USA, Hawaii, Pakistan, UK, Rep. of Georgia, Turkey,
Colombia, Ecuador, Australia, South Africa, etc. We can advise on any
new commercial ventures envisaged, particularly in the USA.
Unfortunately our consultancy has to be charged for, which eliminates
most (but not all) hobby growers, though in my experience the hobby
often becomes an obsession.
Nigel at Teacraft
On Feb 14, 11:47 am, "Alton B. Wilson" <awils...@cinci.rr,com > wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> Does anyone grow tea, as a hobby? I live in southwest Ohio / USA, not
> sure if the climate here is suitable. I heard of a guy in northern Ohio
> (west of Canton) that grows tea, but did not get much information in the
> article as to the "how to's". A link to the article ...
>
> http :// ourohio.org/index.php?page=in-mint-condition
>
> I have read that people have planted Camellia sinensis, but after
> several years, they are only a couple of feet tall.
>
Re: Tea Growing
On Feb 14, 6:47 am, "Alton B. Wilson" <awils...@cinci.rr,com > wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> Does anyone grow tea, as a hobby? I live in southwest Ohio / USA, not
> sure if the climate here is suitable. I heard of a guy in northern Ohio
> (west of Canton) that grows tea, but did not get much information in the
> article as to the "how to's". A link to the article ...
>
> http :// ourohio.org/index.php?page=in-mint-condition
>
> I have read that people have planted Camellia sinensis, but after
> several years, they are only a couple of feet tall.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Regards,
>
> Alton
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
On Feb 14, 6:47 am, "Alton B. Wilson" <awils...@cinci.rr,com > wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> Does anyone grow tea, as a hobby? I live in southwest Ohio / USA, not
> sure if the climate here is suitable. I heard of a guy in northern Ohio
> (west of Canton) that grows tea, but did not get much information in the
> article as to the "how to's". A link to the article ...
>
> http :// ourohio.org/index.php?page=in-mint-condition
>
> I have read that people have planted Camellia sinensis, but after
> several years, they are only a couple of feet tall.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Regards,
>
> Alton
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
Re: Tea Growing
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!
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!
Re: Tea Growing
Sorry for not signing..
Jenn
With red robe in my cup and loving it it mucho!
Sorry for not signing..
Jenn
With red robe in my cup and loving it it mucho!
Re: Tea Growing
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:
http :// forums.gardenweb,com /forums/camellia/
Good luck growing!
Regards,
Alton
Jenn wrote:
> 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!
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:
http :// forums.gardenweb,com /forums/camellia/
Good luck growing!
Regards,
Alton
Jenn wrote:
> 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!
Re: Tea Growing
Jenn,
Try this link:
http :// www .camforest,com /tealist.html
They have several types of tea plants for sale.
Alton
Alton B. Wilson wrote:
> 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:
>
> http :// forums.gardenweb,com /forums/camellia/
>
> Good luck growing!
>
> Regards,
>
> Alton
>
> Jenn wrote:
>> 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!
Jenn,
Try this link:
http :// www .camforest,com /tealist.html
They have several types of tea plants for sale.
Alton
Alton B. Wilson wrote:
> 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:
>
> http :// forums.gardenweb,com /forums/camellia/
>
> Good luck growing!
>
> Regards,
>
> Alton
>
> Jenn wrote:
>> 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!
Re: Tea Growing
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
On Feb 15, 9:26 pm, Jenn <jefferys...@hotmail,com > wrote:
> 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!
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
On Feb 15, 9:26 pm, Jenn <jefferys...@hotmail,com > wrote:
> 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!
Re: Tea Growing
On Feb 16, 2:52 am, Nigel <ni...@teacraft,com > wrote:
> 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
>
> On Feb 15, 9:26 pm, Jenn <jefferys...@hotmail,com > wrote:
>
> > 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!
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: http :// seedrack,com /indiv/camellia sinensis.html?gclid=CIXzu7CRyZECFUWoGgodT0hz2w
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
On Feb 16, 2:52 am, Nigel <ni...@teacraft,com > wrote:
> 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
>
> On Feb 15, 9:26 pm, Jenn <jefferys...@hotmail,com > wrote:
>
> > 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!
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: http :// seedrack,com /indiv/camellia sinensis.html?gclid=CIXzu7CRyZECFUWoGgodT0hz2w
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
Re: Tea Growing
Kauai is a beautiful island. We are starting to plant tea on the east
coast adjacent to Kapa'a as part of a high end agri-residential
development, see http :// www .kealanani,com /home.html
My client has plans for planting 200 acres but the tea is not quite
ready yet for tasting! However, I supplied young plants to another
client on Kauai five years ago and had some of his hand made tea
recently and was very impressed by it.
Nigel at Teacraft
On Feb 16, 4:36 pm, "Dominic T." <dominictibe...@gmail,com > wrote:
> 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.
>
Kauai is a beautiful island. We are starting to plant tea on the east
coast adjacent to Kapa'a as part of a high end agri-residential
development, see http :// www .kealanani,com /home.html
My client has plans for planting 200 acres but the tea is not quite
ready yet for tasting! However, I supplied young plants to another
client on Kauai five years ago and had some of his hand made tea
recently and was very impressed by it.
Nigel at Teacraft
On Feb 16, 4:36 pm, "Dominic T." <dominictibe...@gmail,com > wrote:
> 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.
>
