Detailed Explanation of Camellia oleifera Planting Methods and Technical Key Points

Camellia oleifera (Latin name Camellia oleifera Abel.), also known as tea seed tree, tea oil tree, white flower tea; Camellia oleifera belongs to the tea family (Theaceae) and is an evergreen small tree. It is named for its seeds, which can be pressed for oil (tea oil) for edible use. Tea oil is clear in color and fragrant in taste, rich in nutrients, and resistant to storage; it is a high-quality edible oil; it can also be used as lubricating oil and rust-preventive oil in industry. The tea cake is both a pesticide and a fertilizer, and can improve the water storage capacity of farmland and control rice paddy pests. The fruit peel is a raw material for extracting tannin extract.

1. Select improved varieties

Planting Camellia oleifera is meant to make money, and making money means the yield must be high and the quality must be good, so we need to choose high-quality seedlings. First, we need to select seeds according to the local climate and soil conditions; second, the flowering cycles of the selected Camellia oleifera trees should be consistent; finally, choose improved varieties identified by the relevant national authorities, with large fruit but thin peel, high oil yield, and strong resistance. In addition, Camellia oleifera planting generally uses seedling cuttings or grafting, so when selecting seedlings, choose relatively sturdy ones with no diseases, so that the survival rate and subsequent yield will be high.

2. Land selection and land preparation

The soil for planting Camellia oleifera is best slightly acidic, so that the survival rate will be high; second, the soil should be relatively fertile, preferably red soil or sandy soil; finally, Camellia oleifera prefers shade in its early growth stage, but later it needs sufficient light, so it is best to choose a semi-sunny slope with relatively sufficient sunlight, or a sunny slope is also acceptable. Land preparation should be carried out according to specific conditions. On flat land, we need to plow the entire area, while on slope land, we can choose to plow only the small area to be planted, which can reduce labor and also prevent vegetation from being destroyed.

3. Rational planting

Camellia oleifera is generally planted in October or February each year. The survival rate of Camellia oleifera planted at this time will be much higher than usual. Second, the planting density is best controlled at about one hundred trees per mu, that is, about 2 m between each plant and about 3 m between each row. Seeds can be sown, or seedlings can be used for cuttings or grafting, but seed sowing has a relatively long growth cycle, though it basically bears fruit in about two and a half to three years.

4. Scientific fertilization

Fertilization should be divided into three stages. The first is fertilization at the seedling stage, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, which is what we commonly call urea, mainly to promote the growth of Camellia oleifera. The second stage is for Camellia oleifera trees that have reached three years old and begun to bear fruit. At this time, the Camellia oleifera trees are in their prime, so we need to fertilize in three steps: first, apply a growth fertilizer once in spring, then apply a flower-promoting fertilizer once when flowering, and finally apply a fruit-strengthening fertilizer once when fruiting. The third stage is when the Camellia oleifera trees have some years on them; we need to add one maintenance fertilizer on the basis of the second stage, that is, after the Camellia oleifera harvest. Growth fertilizer is mainly nitrogen fertilizer, flower fertilizer is mainly potassium fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer, and fruit fertilizer is mainly boron fertilizer.

5. Field management

Field management includes daily intertillage and weeding, pest and disease control, branch and leaf pruning, and orchard cleanup. Let us go through them one by one. Camellia oleifera generally needs intertillage and weeding about three times a year, which can improve its resistance and also speed up growth to a certain extent. Camellia oleifera has strong resistance, so there are rarely pests and diseases. Even so, we still carry out prevention, that is, regularly spraying some Bordeaux mixture or carbendazim on the Camellia oleifera, and spraying some trichlorfon solution when there are pests. Branch and leaf pruning is a relatively important step, because Camellia oleifera needs sufficient light in the middle and later stages, so we should cut away some branches and leaves in places that are growing too densely, and then also cut away the relatively weak branches and leaves at the bottom as well as dead branches and diseased branches, which can increase the yield of Camellia oleifera. Finally, there is orchard cleanup, which generally needs to be done immediately after the Camellia oleifera harvest. We should clear out field debris and dead branches, etc., and then spread a layer of lime for disinfection.