Key Technical Points for Tea Plant Cultivation and Management

If you want to harvest top-quality tea leaves, you cannot do without proper cultivation of the tea plant. How should tea plant cultivation and management be handled well?

Cultivation and Management of the Tea Plant

1. We choose loose sandy loam soil with good aeration, drainage and water retention; if it does not meet the requirements, it needs to be improved. Before planting, the land should be deeply ploughed, and base fertilizer should be applied at the same time, mainly organic fertilizer and a certain amount of phosphate fertilizer.

2. If planting with tea seeds, do it in spring and autumn. Before planting, pre-sprout the seeds by soaking the tea seeds in water until saturated and storing them in layers with moist sand; after about 20 days, once half have sprouted, they can be sown. The planting site should first be trenched, using strip sowing with equidistant holes, with a plant spacing of 25-35cm, about 3-5 seeds per hole, and a sowing depth of 3-5 cm, then cover well with soil.

3. If transplanting tea seedlings, also do it in spring and autumn. The selected tea seedlings should be planted immediately to avoid damage and water loss. They can be planted in single rows or double rows, with large and small seedlings separated. Before planting, dip the roots in mud slurry. After planting, water the tea seedlings thoroughly to settle the roots. During the growing period, regular pruning is needed to increase thickness and promote the development of new branches.

4. In tea plant management, water is especially important; it must not be too dry or waterlogged, and watering must be timely. When tea seedlings have new roots, foliar fertilizer can be applied; during the growing period, to promote root development, apply compound fertilizer and urea as topdressing.

5. During the growing period of the tea plant, from the tender shoots to underground parts, many pests and diseases may be encountered. Pests include: tea green leafhopper (Empoasca vitis), tea mites, whiteflies, tea weevils (Myllocerinus aurolineatus), etc.; diseases include: tea blister blight, ring spot disease, red leaf spot disease, anthracnose, white star disease, etc. Take timely control measures and prepare the pesticides.

6. When the tea plant grows to its vigorous period, light pruning and deep pruning are needed to adjust the branches on the canopy surface, control tree height, stimulate sprouting, and adjust the density of branches.

To grow tea plants well, the tea garden must be planted and cultivated scientifically and managed in an orderly way. When problems arise, it is advisable to consult relevant professionals.