2018 ASHS Annual Conference

Tea is second only to water as the most popular beverage in the world. In 2017, over 84 billion servings were sold in the US, with projected sales to double over the next 10 years. Nearly all the tea sold in the US is imported, making the US the third largest tea importer in the world. The promising market trend and increasing consumer demand in locally grown products have promoted growers’ interest in domestic tea production. Camellia sinensis, the source for tea leaves, is an evergreen shrub grown in tropical and subtropical regions. The soil and climate in Mississippi is suitable for growing tea. While tea has been grown in other countries for centuries, there is limited tea production in the US and little research-based information to guide US farmers on tea production. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate tea cultivar performance and identify best management practices for tea production. Preliminary results showed that tea cultivars vary in leaf size, color, growth habit, vigor, and heat and cold tolerance. Providing plants with shade after transplanting into the field improves plant survival rate, especially when irrigation is limited. Transplanting during February and March improves plant survival rate. Mulching a newly planted tea field with pine bark, pine straw, and wheat straw effectively controls weeds and improves plant growth.