Best Time to Transplant Tea Seedlings and Key Points for Fertilizing and Pruning Management After Transplanting

AbstractThe best time to transplant tea seedlings is from November to March of the following year. If the weather is relatively cold, it can be postponed to February-March. Fertilizing is generally done about 1 month after transplanting, and the furrow application method can be used. Dig wide furrows between the rows around the canopy in combination with intertillage. First spread the fertilizer on the ground, then turn it into the soil. When the tea plant grows to 30cm, the first pruning should be carried out.

I. Best Time to Transplant Tea Seedlings

The best time to transplant tea seedlings is from November to March of the following year. If the weather is relatively cold, it can be postponed to February-March. Before transplanting, water once first to keep the soil moist. After 1-2 days, the seedlings can be lifted. When lifting the seedlings, bring more soil to prevent root damage. When transplanting, place the tea seedlings upright, then fill and compact with soil.

II. How Long After Transplanting Tea Seedlings to Fertilize

1. In general, spring tea fertilizer is applied about 1 month after transplanting. You can choose to apply 15-20kg of urea as a heavy topdressing and 10-15kg of potassium chloride, split into 1-2 applications. Then in summer and autumn, apply 10-15kg of urea, split into 1-2 applications. For higher yields, use the upper limit of the fertilizer rate; for lower yields, use the lower limit. Green tea can be given more nitrogen fertilizer to improve quality.

2. Black tea should be given less nitrogen fertilizer to avoid inhibiting fermentation. Red soil tea gardens are relatively deficient in phosphorus, so more phosphorus fertilizer should be applied; if southern soil is severely deficient in potassium, more potassium fertilizer can be applied. Use chlorine-based potassium more for mature trees and less for young trees. The tea plant is a deep-rooted plant, extending more than 1m into the soil layer. Its roots concentrate in the direction of long-term fertilization. Proper deep application can guide the root system to develop deeper, which helps increase the area for absorbing nutrients.

3. The furrow application method can be used. Dig wide furrows between the rows near the canopy in combination with intertillage. First spread the fertilizer on the ground, then turn it into the soil. Topdressing is the same as base application, with a depth of 10-20cm. Sandy soil should be shallower. Tea plants and fruit trees are mostly planted on hilly and sloping land, especially sloping land where the soil layer is often thin and soil moisture is poor. Fertilization should be done in small amounts and many times, that is, each application should be small in amount and can be applied more frequently. At the same time, water timely to avoid burning the roots.

III. How to Prune and Manage Tea Plants

1. When the tea plant grows to 30cm, the first pruning should be carried out. Generally, cut off the part more than 15cm above the ground, leaving about 2-3 branches.

2. When the tea plant grows again to more than 40cm, the second pruning should be carried out. Generally, cut off the main branches more than 25cm above the ground.

3. The third pruning should be carried out when the tea plant grows to more than 55cm. Generally, cut off the part more than 35-40cm above the ground. When the tea plant grows to more than 55cm, appropriate topping, light plucking, or light pruning can be done. When the tea plant canopy reaches more than 70cm and the bush width reaches 1.3m, the tea garden can be put into production earlier.