If you believe this can only be grown in China or another country, you are wrong. Cathy Isom has some tips about growing your own tea at home. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Some might be surprised, but you really can grow tea right at home. Whether it’s black tea, oolong, white or green, it all comes from a plant that’s an evergreen shrub or small tree, and the leaves look similar to bay leaves.
You don’t need a large garden to grow your own tea – it can be grown in a container on a patio or a balcony; you just won’t be able to produce large quantities.
As with any other plant, tea requires your time and proper care. When planting your own tea and if looking for good companion plants, beans and grasses work best. But keep tea away from potatoes.
Tea plants go dormant in the winter, and springtime brings new growth with the first flush of tea shoots. Once plants have reached their third year, you can remove the first two bright green leaves and buds from each branch. These young, apple green leaves are perfect for a fresh cup of tea. After that, it’s best to harvest the plants regularly to encourage growth and help to create a bushy shrub.
I’m Cathy Isom…