We are currently in the critical period for spring Tea production. To guide local areas in their Spring Tea production, the Department of Plant Industry Management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has organized the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, the National Tea Industry Technology System, and the Tea Expert Advisory Group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to develop technical guidance for spring tea garden production management.
I. Coping with Late Spring Cold Spells
(1) **Frost Prevention**. Pay attention to local meteorological information. When temperatures drop to around 0°C, directly cover the canopy of mature tea plants in the tea garden with non-woven fabric, woven bags, multiple layers of plastic film, or multiple layers of shade nets. Covering with a frame that is 20–50 cm above the canopy can be more effective. For tea gardens equipped with sprinkler irrigation systems, turn on the sprinklers before the frost melts to rinse off the frost on the leaves, effectively controlling frost damage. It is recommended that large-scale tea gardens install frost fans. When frost occurs, turning on the fans to disturb the air near the ground can raise the temperature on the surface of the plants, avoiding or reducing frost damage.
(2) **Timely Pruning**. If the tea plants suffer from minor frost damage, no pruning may be necessary. For moderate frost damage, prune off the top frozen branches and leaves. For severe frost damage, deep pruning or even heavy pruning may be required to reshape the canopy.
II. Applying Bud Stimulating Fertilizer Properly
(1) **Root Application of Bud Stimulating Fertilizer**. The spring bud stimulating fertilizer should be applied after late spring cold spells or before the start of spring tea harvesting to ensure adequate nutrient supply for the tea plants. Use mainly fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. Apply 20–30 kg per mu (about 0.067 hectares) of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer by opening trenches about 10 cm deep and immediately covering the soil after application.
(2) **Application of Foliar Fertilizer**. In spring, foliar fertilizer can be sprayed twice, once before the emergence of new shoots and again two weeks later. Spraying should be done on sunny days before 10 am or after 4 pm, or on cloudy days. Common foliar fertilizers include water-soluble urea, amino acid water-soluble fertilizer, humic acid foliar fertilizer, and biogas slurry fertilizer. Water-soluble urea-based foliar fertilizers can be used at a concentration of 5% urea. Amino acid-based foliar fertilizers are best applied at a rate of 50 mg of active ingredient per mu. Humic acid foliar fertilizer should be applied at a concentration of 2% with a dosage of 15 kg per mu. Biogas slurry fertilizer should have an effective nitrogen concentration of approximately 2%.
III. Managing Picking Operations
(1) **Timely Harvesting**. Harvesting in the tea garden should be started early rather than late. When 5–10% of the spring shoots on the canopy reach the picking standard, harvesting should begin. Maintain a proper harvest cycle and pick according to standards. Try to pick all tender shoots on the picking surface according to the standards; otherwise, the shoots will age, which not only affects the quality of the current season's tea but also inhibits the growth of the next flush, affecting tea yield.
(2) **Batch Picking**. During peak picking periods, organize sufficient pickers to pick every 3–4 days. In the early stages, hand-pick premium teas, and later use mechanical picking to improve efficiency.
(3) **Transportation and Preservation**. Fresh leaves should be transported to the tea factory within 4 hours. After being inspected by a designated person, they should be spread out as soon as possible in a clean, cool room. Containers for transporting fresh leaves should be made of bamboo with good breathability and cleanliness, with a capacity of 10–20 kg, and should be handled gently during transportation to reduce damage. If fresh leaves cannot be delivered to the factory in time, they should be spread out in a clean, well-ventilated area to preserve freshness, avoiding exposure to sunlight and rain, and then sent to the factory as soon as possible.