Question! I wondered about tea plants. How are they propogated, by seed, layering or cuttings? Anybody know ??

Answer 1

Camellia Sinesis (tea plant or tea bush)

CULTIVATION. Tea is propogated from seed, but high yielding clonal material has also become popular. The plants are initially raised in nurseries to produce healthy plants. 1 to 1 and 1/2 year old nursery seedlings are used for planting in the field. The vegetative propogation of selected tea-plant cuttings, each with a leaf and an internode has been standardized and progressive planters now raise colonial nurseries on a large scale.

The area intended for planting is first cleared of forest growth and adequate steps are taken to prevent soilerosion.Planting lines are traced(as at present on contour on hill slopes) and pits of a convenient size(generally 30-45 cm deep and 24 cm wide) are dug. The normal accepted spacing is 120 X 75 cm, accomodating about 10,000 plants in a hectare. The soil is heavily mulched during the initial one or two years

Answer 2

From seed - just cover the seed and keep damp at 15ºC. Germination takes about 4 weeks. It is essential to use an ericaceous (acid) compost, such as that sold for growing rhodedendrons. Tea can also be grown from cuttings, either from firm heeled shoots taken in June, or near-ripe shoots with a heel taken in August-September. Both types should be kept in a shaded frame and grown for at least a year in a glasshouse before being planted outside.

Answer 3

They are planted by tea seeds. Prepare a compost heap and then have 'coht kee' trees for manure. More steps as follows in this url

Answer 4

What i want to know is how do they wash the tea leaves before they package and sell them without ... well ya know making tea when they wash them?