How to Manage Tea Gardens in Spring 2024

As we are currently in the critical period of spring tea production, the Crop Management Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has organized the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, the National Tea Industry Technology System, and the Tea Expert Guidance Group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to research and propose technical guidelines for spring tea garden management.

Responding to Spring Cold Spells

1. Frost Prevention

Keep an eye on local weather information. When the temperature drops to around 0°C, cover the canopy of mature tea trees with non-woven fabric, woven bags, multiple layers of plastic film, or multiple layers of shade nets, with a height of 20-50 cm above the canopy. Shelters that are elevated above the canopy are more effective. In tea gardens with irrigation systems, turn on the irrigation system before the frost melts to spray water on the tea trees, which can effectively prevent frost damage by washing away the frost on the leaves. Large-scale tea gardens are advised to install anti-frost machines. When frost occurs, turn on the machine to blow air, disturbing the near-ground air to raise the surface temperature of the trees and avoid or reduce frost damage.

2. Timely Pruning

If the tea trees are slightly frost-damaged, pruning may not be necessary; if moderately frost-damaged, the upper frost-damaged branches and leaves should be pruned. If the frost damage is severe, deep or heavy pruning should be done to reshape the crown.

Applying Sprouting Fertilizer

1. Root Application of Sprouting Fertilizer

Spring sprouting fertilizer should be applied after the spring cold spell or before the start of spring tea harvesting to ensure adequate nutrient supply for the tea trees. Primarily use quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, applying 20-30 kg per mu of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer by trenching to a depth of about 10 cm and covering the soil immediately after application.

2. Foliar Fertilizer Application

In spring, foliar fertilizer can be sprayed twice: once before the new shoots of spring tea sprout and once two weeks later. Spraying should be done in the morning before 10 AM, after 4 PM in the afternoon, or on cloudy days. Common foliar fertilizers include water-soluble urea, amino acid water-soluble fertilizer, humic acid foliar fertilizer, and biogas slurry fertilizer. Water-soluble urea foliar fertilizer can be prepared with a 5% urea solution, amino acid foliar fertilizer should contain 50 mg of active ingredient per mu, humic acid foliar fertilizer can be used with a 2% solution at a rate of 15 kg per mu, and biogas slurry fertilizer should have an effective nitrogen content of about 2%.

Ensuring Proper Harvesting Operations

1. Timely Harvesting

Tea garden harvesting should begin early. When 5%-10% of the spring shoots on the canopy reach the harvesting standard, harvesting should start. The harvesting cycle should be well managed, and shoots meeting the standard should be harvested promptly. Ensure that the tender shoots on the harvesting surface are harvested according to the standard; otherwise, the spring shoots will age, affecting the quality of the current season's tea and inhibiting the sprouting growth of the next round, thereby impacting tea yield.

2. Batch Harvesting

During the peak harvesting period, organize enough pickers to harvest every 3-4 days. Initially, use manual picking for premium tea, and later, use mechanical tea picking to improve harvesting efficiency.

3. Transport and Freshness Preservation

Fresh leaves should be transported to the tea processing plant within 4 hours and quickly spread in a clean, cool indoor environment after being inspected by dedicated personnel. Use breathable, clean bamboo baskets for transporting fresh leaves, with a capacity of 10-20 kg. Avoid compression during transportation to reduce damage. If fresh leaves cannot be promptly delivered to the processing plant, they should be spread out in a clean, ventilated place for preservation, avoiding direct sunlight and rain, and then quickly sent to the processing plant.