About Tea Plant Seed Propagation
Camellia sinensis, the tea plant, is an evergreen shrub that thrives in cool, moist regions where it attains heights of 20 feet (6 m.) with a broad 15-foot (about 4.5 m.) wide canopy. Growing tea from seeds is best accomplished in USDA zones 9-11. While tea plants are usually propagated via cuttings, it is possible to grow a tea plant from seed. Prior to germinating tea seeds, gather fresh seed in the mid to late fall, when the seed capsules are ripe and a reddish-brown color. The capsules will also begin to split open once they are ripe. Crack the capsules open and extract the pale brown seeds.
Germinating Tea Seeds
When growing tea from seeds, the seed must first be soaked to soften the outer hull. Put the seeds in a bowl and cover them with water. Soak the seeds for 24 hours and then discard any “floaters,” seeds that float to the surface of the water. Drain the remainder of the seeds. Spread the soaked tea seeds on a dish towel or tarp in a sunny area. Mist the seeds with some water every few hours so they don’t dry completely. Keep an eye on the seeds for a day or two. When the hulls begin to crack, gather the seeds up and sow them immediately.
How to Plant Tea Seeds
Plant the seeds whose hulls have cracked in a well-draining potting medium, half potting soil, and half perlite or vermiculite. Bury the seed about an inch (2.5 cm.) under the soil with the eye (hilum) in a horizontal position and parallel to the soil’s surface. Keep the seeds uniformly moist but not sodden in an area with temperatures that are consistently 70-75 F. (21-24 C.) or atop a germination mat. Cover the germinating tea seeds with plastic wrap to retain moisture and warmth. The germinating tea seeds should show signs of growth within a month or two. When sprouts begin to appear, remove the plastic wrap. Once the emerging seedlings have two sets of true leaves, tea plant seed propagation has been completed and it’s time to transplant them into larger pots. Move the transplanted seedlings into a sheltered space and light shade but with some morning and late afternoon sun as well. Keep growing tea plants from seed under this light shade for another 2-3 months until they are about a foot (30.5 cm.) in height. Harden off the plants for a week in the fall prior to transplanting them outside. Space the seedlings at least 15 feet (about 4.5 m.) apart in moist, acidic soil. To prevent the trees from stress, provide them with light shade during their first summer. If you live in a cool climate, you can grow the tea plants in containers.
