The Growth Environment and Characteristics of Tea Trees
A series of daily knowledge articles about the growth environment and characteristics of tea trees in the aspect of green plant maintenance, with specific content as follows:
The Growth Environment and Characteristics of Tea Trees
Tea trees thrive in warm and humid climates, and the area between 28°N and 32°N latitude is considered the "golden line" for tea tree growth, which is the best suitable area for high-quality green tea. Both spring and autumn are suitable for planting tea seedlings. Light is essential for the survival of tea trees, neither too strong nor too weak, as tea trees have a special fondness for ultraviolet light, hence the saying that high mountains produce good tea.
Morphological Features and Appearance of Tea Trees
Tea trees, also known as Camellia sinensis, belong to the Camellia family, genus Camellia, and are灌木 or small trees with no hair on young branches. Tea trees prefer warm and humid climates, with buds starting to sprout when the average temperature reaches 10°C, and the optimal growth temperature is between 20-25°C. Annual precipitation should be above 1000 millimeters; they enjoy light and can tolerate shade, suitable for growing under diffused light. The life cycle of a tea tree includes the seedling stage, juvenile stage, mature stage, and senescence stage. The tree can live for one to two hundred years, but the economic age is generally 40-50 years. A tea tree plant is composed of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds, with roots, stems, and leaves being the nutritional organs; flowers, fruits, and seeds are the reproductive organs.Suitable Growth Environment and Conditions for Tea Trees
The area between 28°N and 32°N latitude is considered the "golden line" for tea tree growth, which is the best suitable area for high-quality green tea. Dragon Well Village and Lion Peak Mountain are located right in the middle of this "golden line" at 30°04'N to 30°20'N, which is the golden area for tea growth. When planting tea trees, the tillable layer of the soil must be thick and loose, rich in organic matter, with loose soil texture, good permeability, and the ability to retain water and fertilizer. Tea trees thrive in neutral environments, so the soil pH should remain between 5-6. A suitable planting soil is greatly beneficial to the growth of tea trees. The optimal temperature for tea tree growth is also significant. The temperature should not be too high or too low; otherwise, it will suppress the growth of the tea tree and reduce yield and quality. Under normal conditions, the optimal temperature range for tea tree growth is around 25 degrees, with the highest not exceeding 34 degrees. Exceeding this range will slow down the growth rate of tea trees, and they may even stop growing. Moreover, the temperature should not be too low; below 10 degrees, the roots stop activities. This is the main reason why tea trees cannot grow in winter, and sometimes it can even cause frost damage.The Growth Process of Tea Trees
Seedling stage: Refers to the period from the germination of tea seeds to the emergence of the tea seedlings and the first growth cessation. Juvenile stage: Refers to the period from the first growth cessation to the first flowering and fruiting of the tea tree. Mature stage: Refers to the period from the first flowering and fruiting to the first natural renewal. Senescence stage: Refers to the period when the tea tree transitions from vigorous growth to senescence, leading to the death of the tree.Planting Time and Methods for Tea Trees
Tea tree planting time: Both spring and autumn are suitable for planting tea seedlings. Early spring is from late February to early March, and late autumn is from mid-October to November. The soil requirements are generally a soil layer of more than 1 meter thick without limestone, well-drained sandy loam soil. The organic matter content should be 1%-2% or more, with good aeration, permeability, or water retention, and a pH value of 5-5.5. Light is essential for the survival of tea trees, neither too strong nor too weak, as tea trees have a special fondness for ultraviolet light, hence the saying that high mountains produce good tea.The above explanation about the growth environment and characteristics of tea trees is hoped to bring a bit of help to your life!