What drink can you consume in a summer brunch with cakes or during a frosty winter to heal your sore throat? The answer is the second-most popular beverage in the world, which is tea. This beverage originated in China about 4000 years ago and made its way across Europe and Asia. And eventually, people from all around the world have given it a place in their hearts. Tea comes with various types and preparatory processes. In India, many people have milk tea with ginger and cinnamon in it while in America, tea is served with herbs like mint or lavender. Having your own tea garden can benefit you to make varieties of blends. Plus, you get to enjoy the aromas of beautiful flowers and fresh herbs. Here are some ways you can grow your own tea garden, depending on the tea types.

Buy tea seeds

If you are looking to grow your own tea, you have many options available to you. You can find tea seeds online or at your local nursery. The Camellia sinensis var. The sinensis variety is the more hard choice but if you live in a tropical climate, assamica will work too.

Alternatively, you can cut plants from an existing tea bush to propagate them. This is a great way to expand your tea garden without having to purchase more seeds. You can also purchase a plant that has already sprouted which is a great option if you are looking for quicker results.

Once you have acquired the seeds or plants, you will need to make sure you have the right environment for them to thrive. 

Prepare the soil

Growing tea is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it requires a specific type of soil to thrive. Tea loves sandy, acidic soil with a pH of between 5.5 to 6.5. If your soil doesn’t measure up, you can make it more acidic with the addition of pine needles or sulfur.

Additionally, it’s important to ensure that your soil drains well and that your tea plants have enough room to spread out by at least three feet. With the right environment, your tea plants can flourish and bear delicious leaves that can be used for a steaming cup of tea. 

Soaking and drying

Once you have the seeds, you’ll need to soak them in a bowl of water for 24-48 hours. During this time, it’s important to keep an eye on the bowl and discard any seeds that float to the surface. 

After the soaking is finished, you’ll want to drain the water and spread the seeds out on a towel in the sun, making sure to spritz them with water every few hours to keep them moist.

After a day or two, you should see the hull of the seeds begin to crack, which is the sign that they are ready to be planted. From here, you can plant the seeds in the soil and begin the process of growing your own tea.

Nurture seeds

When it comes to growing plants from seeds, it is important to know the right way to properly germinate them. Once your seeds have germinated, the next step is to plant them in a small pot or planter’s tray filled with soil or vermiculite.

When placing the seeds in the pot or planter’s tray, be sure to keep the eyes of the seeds parallel to the surface and fill the tray with about one inch of soil or vermiculite. This will help the seeds to maintain the right amount of moisture. 

Plant it

After your tea seedlings have gone through the germination process, they should be around seven to eight inches tall and have at least three to four leaves. If you plan on growing them in a pot, make sure to transfer them to a pot that is at least six inches deep.

If you’re planting them outside, you should keep the seedlings spaced out at a distance of three feet apart. Your planting location should receive both partial sun and partial shade, with at least six hours of sunlight a day.

This will help the seedlings get a healthy dose of sunlight and shade, allowing them to get the nourishment they need to grow. 

Water them

Tea plants need regular watering to survive and thrive, but it’s important to be careful not to overwater them. Too much water can cause the roots to rot, and this can be fatal for the plant.

To ensure that your tea plant gets the right amount of water, make sure you keep an eye on the soil. It should be moderately moist without being soaked. 

Let your tea garden grow

Growing tea from seed is an extensive process that requires a great deal of patience and dedication. The process of growing tea from seed can take anywhere from two to three years before the leaves are ready to harvest.

During this time, the seedlings need to be tended to and properly cared for in order to ensure that they are able to reach their full potential. 

Growing tea from seed may be a lengthy process, but the end result is certainly worth the wait. Follow the above-mentioned steps to create your own tea garden. But, till the time you are buying teas from the market, consider purchasing your regular tea from Halmari Tea.