How to Grow a Green Tea Plant
A green tea plant is identical to a black tea plant -- the only difference is the manner in which tea growers process the leaves. After harvesting, tea processors use heat to inactivate the enzymes responsible for turning the leaves dark, which preserves chlorophyll, the component that imparts the characteristic green color. Tea plants grow best in temperatures ranging from 65 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit; they will not grow in temperatures below 55 degrees or above 95 degrees. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Soil tester
- Mulching material
- Compost
- Topsoil
- Fertilizer
- Ferrous sulfate
- Water hose
- Pan
- Food thermometer
- Sealable storage containers
Instructions
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Select a healthy nursery plant. Check for signs of insects or disease, and inspect the trunk of the plant for wounds. Avoid buying large plants in small containers, as the restricted space may have impeded root growth.
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Choose a planting site 10 to 15 feet distant from other plants, trees and structures to allow room for the bush to grow. Pick an area in full sun or light shade and that has good soil drainage. If the area is prone to flooding, create a mound of soil that is 3 to 4 feet high and 4 to 10 feet in diameter in which to plant the tea bush.
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Test the soil's pH level. Tea plants grow best in acid to neutral conditions. For soils that are too alkaline, reduce the pH by adding compost and topsoil.
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Dig a hole three to four times wider than the diameter of the plant container and three times as deep. Remove the plant from the container and place the root ball in the hole. Back fill with soil and tamp it down lightly. Water the soil until it is wet but not saturated.
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Place a 2- to 6-inch layer of mulch around the plant, keeping it 6 to 12 inches distant from the trunk. Use mulching material such as bark or wood chips.
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Apply 1/8 to 1/4 pound of dry fertilizer mix to young plants, raising the amount to 1 to 2 pounds as the bush grows. Use a mixture of 6 to 10 percent nitrogen, 6 to 10 percent phosphoric acid, 6 to 10 percent potash and 2 to 6 percent magnesium. Apply fertilizer every 60 days during the summer.
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Apply ferrous sulfate to acidic or neutral soils or a mixture of iron and water to soils with high pH levels. Make three to four iron applications during the warm months.
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Water the plant frequently during dry periods.
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Harvest the tea leaves from the mature plant and process into green tea. Place the tea leaves in a pan and heat to 480 to 570 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes; stir the leaves or agitate the pan to prevent burning. Let the leaves cool, then place in a sealed container.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose the China variety tea Camellia sinensis var. sinensis over the Assam variety Camellia sinensis var. assamica, as the latter produces a bitter green tea.
Remove plants affected by pests to prevent the spread of the infestation. Do not use pesticides.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
