Cold Hardy Tea Plant – USDA Organic on Sale

Homegrown Tea, Organically-Made

One of the hardiest tea varieties available, the organic Cold Hardy Tea Plant is a prime pick for harvesting your own tea leaves, right from your backyard. It boasts narrow, smaller leaves, which are favored for preparing oolong and green teas – some of the most popular variations available.

And you’ll only need a few Cold Hardy Tea Plants to curate a lifetime of deliciously fresh, pure tea. Though your tea plant(s) need a bit of time to get established before harvest, you’ll be able to pick leaves after 2 or 3 years. By the fifth year, a single Cold Hardy Tea Plant should yield an exceptionally large number of leaves. The Cold Hardy Tea Plant is adaptable and long-lived, able to grow to a huge, shrub-like size if left unchecked. For best tea production, keep your Cold Hardy Tea Plant pruned to about 3 or 4 feet for easy harvesting – it will continuously produce fresh, new stems with proper care.

Untreated tea leaves, fresh from your garden. The tea leaves from the organic Cold Hardy Tea Plant are totally healthful, with plenty of phytochemicals and antioxidants. Best of all, this special variety is healthfully and organically-grown, so harsh chemicals are unnecessary. Your favorite tea without pesticides? Just a click away.

Plus, the Cold Hardy Tea Plant is an eye-catching hedge, complemented by a smattering of freshly fragrant florals. During the fall and winter, diminutive white blooms fill the area with an aromatic, luxuriant scent for a wonderfully welcoming air.

Even better, because the Cold Hardy Tea Plant can produce for more than 100 years, you’ll save a great deal of money on store-bought tea leaves and get an even higher quality yield. Simply pluck your tea leaves and dry for fresh use or storage. Health-conscious, cash-conscious and curb appeal-conscious – the Cold Hardy Tea Plant is a versatile botanical. Order yours today!

Planting & Care

The tea plant (or Camellia sinensis) has been used for centuries for its health benefits regardless of the tea color. The drink is also known for its incredible antioxidants, caffeine boost, nutrients and other medicinal compounds. It s hard to say just how long people have enjoyed tea for its health benefits but what can be confirmed is that it has been used as a beverage for over 5,000 years! The leaves of the plant are what primarily make up the beverage and is typically green, white, black or Oolong in appearance. Typically grown outdoors in USDA growing zones 6-9, a tea plant can also be successfully grown in a container to enjoy your favorite hot beverage year round.

Choosing a location: Your tea plant will be happiest in a full to partial sun location. If possible, try to put it in a spot that it will be protected from strong winds. Space multiple plants at least three feet apart from one another. Tea plants enjoy a moist, well draining, acidic soil (ph range of 6-6.5 or lower).

Planting directions (in ground):
1) An acidic soil is best for the tea plant and using soil meant for rhododendrons will help maintain a happy tea plant.
2) Make your hole twice the size of the root ball and just as deep.
3) The rhododendron soil is ideal for the back filling of the hole which will introduce some acidity for the tea plant.
4) Spread a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the bush to help retain moisture while simultaneously combating competing weeds from growing.

Planting directions (potted):
1) Select a pot with good drainage that is about twice the size of the root ball. Drainage is important as tea plants hate to have wet feet.
2) Use a well draining, acidic soil to fill the bottom third of the pot, and center your new tea plant. Carefully fill the soil in around the root system and be sure to leave the root crown (where the root ball meets the trunk) just above the soil surface.
3) Bright, indirect light is the best location for your newly potted tea plant with a steady temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
*Tip: To encourage blooming on the bush, change the surrounding temperature to a window of 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit after the buds begin to appear in winter season.
4) As the bush grows it will need periodic repotting. Typically once every 2-3 years (or as needed) the roots will outgrow the pot, so move up to a slightly larger container and be sure to trim the roots so they fit proportionately.

Watering: Your tea plant will require at least one weekly watering (mulch helps retain moisture so be sure to spread a good 2-3 inch layer around the base). Keep an eye on the area during the hot season as you might need to move up to a dual watering weekly. Try to avoid doing a rain down style of watering as this can promote fungal issues.

For potted tea plants, wait until the top 2-4 inches of the soil become dry before any additional watering. Only water enough to where you see it escaping the drainage holes and stop. Do not allow the pot to sit in water.

Fertilizing: For the first year, during active growing in spring and summer, apply a 1 2 lb. of a slow release, complete fertilizer every two months. For each following year, add an additional 1 2 lb. to each application. Broadcast the fertilizer around the base of the tree at least six inches from the base of the tree to avoid root burn and then water thoroughly.

From spring to the fall season, use a liquid, acidic fertilizer every three weeks on your potted tea plant. For the best results, dilute the formula to half the strength of the recommended amount.

Pruning: Once your tea plant gets to be around 5 feet tall, prune back the bush in the early spring season. Always make your cuts at a 45 degree angle with sterilized clippers. Rubbing alcohol and boiling water are easy ways to sterilize your tool(s). Cut back the top growth to about 3-4 feet tall. Always remove any damaged, dead or crowded branches to maintain the shape and size of the plant.

Potted tea plants should be pruned back yearly after the blooming period. Just like the in-ground tea plant, be sure to remove dead, damaged, or crowded branches. Cut the stem back towards the base of the bush. You can cut individual branches to just past a leaf node or bud.

Harvesting: It is recommended to let your tea bush grow for a couple of years before harvesting the leaves for brewing. The youngest leaves on your tea plant tend to make the best tea. The youngest are typically the last few leaves and the bud. Set the leaves to dry out of the sun for about 2 hours and then pan heat or steam to stop the leaf’s oxidation. Try to keep the heat fairly high during this process (500 degrees fahrenheit) for about 15 minutes while continuously shaking and or stirring to prevent scorch or burning. Leaves can now be dried in the oven or in a dehydrator, stored in an airtight container and left in a cool dry area for storage.