Recently, with the temperatures gradually warming up, the Tea buds in our county's tea gardens are poised to sprout. To do well in the Spring Tea production and sales, we hereby offer the following guidance for reference by tea enterprises and farmers.

Early Tree Crown Pruning

Promote even bud emergence and balanced growth of the tea trees. When the saplings reach a height of 25-30 cm and have 1-2 branches, shape them by cutting off the top excess parts at 15-20 cm above ground level, leaving the side branches. For light pruning, remove overgrown, diseased, and frost-damaged branches and leaves about 3-5 cm from the canopy. This should be done when temperatures stabilize above 15°C, and ideally completed before the spring buds sprout.

Early Bud Stimulating Fertilization

Promote early and abundant bud emergence to increase yield and quality. About 15 days before the spring buds sprout, apply 15 kg of nitrogen fertilizer and 40-50 kg of specialized tea fertilizer per mu (Chinese unit of area) in trenches directly under the tree crowns. As you fertilize, cover the soil to reduce fertilizer loss.

Early Trenching for Waterlogging Prevention

Spring sees a rapid rise in temperature and increased rainfall, so it is necessary to open trenches for drainage early to prevent waterlogging in the tea garden.

Early Shallow Cultivation

Timely shallow cultivation can enhance root vitality, significantly promoting bud emergence. It also helps control weeds and turns fallen leaves into the soil, reducing pest populations.

Early Pest and Disease Control

In the spring harvest period, which coincides with the initial stages of pests such as aphids, tea caterpillars, and black scale insects, biological pesticides should be used for control between the Spring Equinox and Qingming Festival to eliminate pests during their initial phase.

Timely Tea Seedling Planting

Spring seedling Transplanting is best carried out between the Awakening of Insects and the Spring Equinox. The planting specifications are: row spacing of 170 cm, inter-row spacing of 40 cm, plant spacing of 30 cm, trench width of 30 cm, 2 plants per cluster, and 5000 plants per mu. When transplanting, ensure that the seedlings carry as much soil as possible and suffer minimal root damage. To prevent water loss from the seedlings, trim them to retain 4-5 leaves. Dip the roots in mud slurry, straighten the seedlings, fill in fine soil, compact the soil around the roots, and thoroughly water the plants.

Early Preparation for Processing

To prepare for the start of the spring tea season, all tea enterprises should conduct a thorough cleaning of the Tea processing plants and surrounding environment. Conduct a comprehensive inspection of tea processing equipment, and clean and wipe down the machinery. If new equipment is needed, promptly make arrangements for procurement to ensure timely installation and testing, avoiding delays in the tea season. For equipment that was properly maintained at the end of last year's season, remove any rust preventative oil or other contaminants to avoid tea contamination. Equipment that was not properly maintained should undergo a comprehensive maintenance check, inspecting machine operation status and making timely replacements and adjustments. Additionally, prepare sufficient fuel, auxiliary materials, and tools required for tea processing. Recruit and train staff for picking and processing in preparation for the spring tea production.

Timely Garden Opening

Each tea region should open its gardens at the appropriate time based on local conditions. When there are 10-15 tea buds per square meter meeting the fresh leaf quality requirements on the canopy surface, the garden can be opened for picking. During picking, follow standards, pick promptly and in batches, and frequently harvest, ensuring that all tender leaves are picked. All tea enterprises, factories, and farmers must strictly adhere to the “Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea Production Technical Regulations,” “Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea Processing Technical Regulations,” “Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea,” and “Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea brewing Technical Regulations” to guarantee the quality of the Yingshan Cloud Mist Tea brand and maximize the economic benefits of the spring tea harvest.