Recently, there has been a significant drop in temperature across the Tea-growing regions north of the Yangtze River, south of the Yangze River, eastern parts of the southwestern region, and southern China, with some areas experiencing drops exceeding 18°C. In order to respond effectively to low-temperature cold waves and minimize freeze damage in tea gardens, the Department of Plant Industry Management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, the Expert Advisory Group for Tea of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Tea Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have formulated the following technical guidance.

Pay Attention to Cold Wave Forecasts

Closely monitor weather forecasts and promptly grasp information about agricultural disasters caused by adverse weather conditions. Early measures should be taken in tea gardens, particularly in tea nurseries, young tea gardens, and high-altitude tea gardens, to prepare for low-temperature cold waves.

Implement Protective Covering Measures

Tea nurseries, young tea gardens, and high-altitude tea gardens should adopt protective measures such as soil cultivation, covering, and setting up barriers based on local conditions. These measures aim to minimize the harm caused by extreme low temperatures to tea gardens and ensure Spring Tea production next year. In mountainous tea gardens, materials like grass, rice straw, and crop stalks can be used locally to cover the rows between tea plants. For tea gardens that are prone to freezing on their windward side, the canopy surface of the tea plants can be covered with rice straw, miscellaneous grass, or shade nets. The covering materials should be removed promptly after the adverse weather event.

Apply Anti-Freeze Agents

Following warnings of low-temperature cold wave and ice conditions, choose a day without rain to apply plant anti-freeze agents as soon as possible to enhance the resistance of tea plants.

Clear Ditches and Snow Promptly

For plots located in low-lying areas with poor drainage, ditches should be promptly cleared and additional drainage ditches dug to prevent waterlogging caused by melting snow and ice from damaging the root systems of tea plants. In mountainous tea gardens with heavy snowfall, when temperatures rise, the snow on the canopy of the tea plants should be cleared promptly to reduce the occurrence of freeze damage.

Manage Frozen Tea Gardens Post-Freezing

For frozen tea gardens, pruning can be carried out after the spring temperatures rise next year, before the buds start sprouting. The depth of pruning should be adjusted according to the degree of freeze damage, ideally 1-2 cm deeper than the dead branches. If only the edges of the leaves are frozen, pruning is not necessary. After pruning, fertilization and water management should be strengthened for the tea trees affected by frost. Early spring bud-stimulating fertilizer should be applied. Fertilizer application should generally be completed by the end of February, with quick-release chemical fertilizers being the main type. On top of nitrogen fertilizers, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be added, and organic fertilizers should be used where conditions permit.