Summer Pruning of Tea Shoot Tips

Hangzhou has already passed the plum rain season, and it is necessary to promptly conduct summer pruning of tea shoot tips in the West Lake Longjing tea gardens. For those that underwent heavy pruning before the end of April and have shown vigorous growth with summer shoots reaching over 50 centimeters in height, summer pruning can now be carried out.

Purposes of pruning tea shoot tips:

First, to control the height of the tea bushes and reduce the number of ineffective branches on summer shoots; second, to increase the density and improve the quality of autumn shoots; third, to decrease the flowering and fruiting of tea plants in autumn. Only by cultivating high-quality autumn shoots can we ensure a premium and high yield for next year's Spring Tea.

Specific operations:

Nutrition first, then cut.

1. Open trenches for top-dressing fertilizer application. Create shallow trenches 10-15 centimeters deep along the rows of tea plants, apply 30-50 kilograms per mu (about 0.067 hectares) of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer, and cover the soil after application.

2. Use a motorized double-person pruner or an electric single-person pruner to prune 20-25 centimeters above the previous cut.

Special emphasis: Pay attention to the timing of pruning. Do not prune during continuous high temperatures or under strong sunlight. Seize brief periods of cooling and rainy weather for pruning, to avoid sudden exposure of the middle and lower leaves to high temperatures and strong light, which could cause scorching.

Use a double-person or single-person pruner for this task

Leave summer shoots at a height of 20-25 centimeters (5 leaves)

Avoid working under strong midday sunlight to prevent Leaf scorch