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Winter Fertilization
According to the growth and development patterns of tea plants, as they enter autumn and winter, the above-ground parts will gradually stop growing and enter dormancy. However, the underground parts become increasingly active and enter the peak period of root activity throughout the year. At this time, the plant's root system significantly strengthens its absorption capacity and has a high demand for nutrients. Timely fertilization can ensure the necessary nutrients for root activity before winter and store enough nutrients for the emergence of Spring Tea the following year. This results in plump, flavorful spring tea buds and improves yield, quality, and benefits.
Fertilization Principles and Recommendations:
Guizhou tea gardens typically undergo fertilization from mid-October to early November, with the base fertilizer accounting for 40-50% of the total annual fertilizer usage. The principles for applying base fertilizer are: early, sufficient, deep, and good. It is recommended to use specialized compound fertilizers for tea, organic-inorganic compound fertilizers for tea, commercial organic fertilizers, and rapeseed cake fertilizers. For mature tea gardens: apply fertilizer along the vertical crown by digging trenches 15-20 cm deep, covering the Soil after fertilization; for young tea gardens: dig trenches 15 cm deep, 10 cm outside the crown periphery, with emphasis on the application of organic fertilizers; for sloping tea gardens: open trenches on the uphill side of the tea rows or clusters to reduce nutrient runoff.
Winter Pruning
The long production season and multiple rounds of picking cause the tea plant to consume a large amount of available nutrients, leading to general damage to the plant. The density and size of buds on the picking surface are uneven, and there are increased chicken-claw branches and opposing leaves. Through winter pruning of the tea garden, one can control the height, evenness, and distribution of buds and leaves on the tree crown, remove chicken-claw branches, adjust the number and thickness of productive branches, stimulate the growth of axillary buds, and achieve consistent budding. This promotes the cultivation of robust main branches and regulates the density and thickness of productive branches in mature tea plants, maintaining a high-quality picking surface on the tree crown to achieve the goal of high and stable yields in the tea garden.
Pruning Techniques:
Winter pruning of tea plants is generally carried out from mid-October to early November. For young tea gardens, winter pruning involves shaping pruning: immediately perform the first shaping pruning after transplanting tea seedlings, Cutting at a height of 15-20 cm from the ground. One year after planting, perform the second shaping pruning, raising the cut 10-15 cm above the previous cut. Two years after planting, perform the third shaping pruning, again raising the cut 10-15 cm. For mature tea gardens, winter pruning involves light pruning or deep pruning. Light pruning: for tea plants that have formed uneven canopy surfaces after autumn picking, prune 3-5 cm of branches and leaves from the surface of the canopy to create a good picking surface. Deep pruning: for tea gardens with many chicken-claw branches, weak branches, and declining yields, prune 10-15 cm of branches and leaves from the canopy surface, removing all chicken-claw branches and weak branches to rejuvenate the canopy.
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Winter Garden Cleanup
The primary purpose of garden cleanup is to eliminate pests, diseases, and weeds accumulated in the tea garden over the past year. Eliminating them while they are hibernating helps prevent outbreaks the following year and ensures a bountiful harvest.
Weed Control: Manual weeding, herbicides are prohibited in tea gardens.
Tea gardens should complete weeding as soon as possible after the beginning of autumn, and during the winter management phase, weeds should be cleared again based on the situation.
Disease and Pest Branches Cleanup: Through “picking instead of managing,” take diseased leaves and branches out of the tea garden. If suitable, they can be used for producing dried tea. If the incidence of diseases and pests was slight in the current year, pruned branches can be laid between rows. If the incidence of diseases and pests was severe in the current year, take the pruned branches out of the tea garden.
Chemical Garden Cleanup: The general time for garden cleanup is from mid-October to early December. Generally, 99% mineral oil emulsion or 45% sulfur suspension is selected, with a dilution ratio of 150 to 200 times.
Adhere to the principle of “thorough spraying” and pay attention to safety precautions.
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Cold and Freeze Prevention
Most tea gardens in Guizhou, due to differences in geographical location and altitude, often suffer from various types of frost damage such as snow frost, ice frost, frost, or wind frost. Experts have provided corresponding preventive and remedial measures for these types of frost damage.
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Timely stop picking in autumn, promptly prune, and strengthen fertilizer management.
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For tea gardens located in windy areas, establish protective Forest belts. Plant trees around the garden or in empty spaces within it.
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Cover and protect against frost before the freeze.
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Establishing protective forest belts in windy areas reduces wind speed within the area, effectively resisting cold waves.
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Interplant winter green manure crops between tea rows in autumn.
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Apply bacterial endotoxin in advance to prevent frost damage and strengthen weather forecasting for disastrous conditions.
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After snowstorms, promptly drain meltwater in waterlogged tea gardens.
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After frost damage, once temperatures stabilize, prune damaged branches and leaves, combining with additional fertilizer applications, and allow productive branches to grow to promote canopy recovery.
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