Great article on how to grow tea(Camellia Sinensis)

This year we have put a lot of work in to improve our garden and make it to where it's in a position to thrive.  We've got chickens and bunnies providing lots of fertilizer and, being the diggers that they are, soil aeration.  We've also got compost bins and worm farms working their magic to produce rich soil and worm tea. 

I started to wonder if it was possible to grow tea here.  Having worked in the tea business, we order most of our tea from Asia, where the climate is typically a bit hotter than in my region, the Pacific Northwest.  I did a search, and found a great article on how to grow tea and where to get plants and seeds. 

Tea comes from the plant Camellia Sinensis.  According to Melinda, the author of this article, c. sinensis is best grown in climate zones 7 and 8.  Fortunately for me I am in zone 7.  She says if the lovely Camellia grows in your area, then so will camellia sinensis.  Since it is a bit cold here, if I decide to grow tea I will most likely get a portable, plastic greenhouse just to be safe. 

 

(a Camellia flower)

As for processing the tea bush once it is ready, that is a bit more involved.   But given the time it takes for camellia sinensis to mature(up to 3 years from seed to harvest), you'll have plenty of time to learn the intricacies of harvesting and processing.

Please read the article for all the details! http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=1053