tea growing on "dry tropics" coast (forum)

tropical new thumb starts with ...
Question: will the tea plant C sinensis flourish on a tropical coast barely above Highest Astronomical Tide (HAT) where the topsoil is imported and the native sandy soil may contain some residual salt from the occasional highest spring tides?

Townsville is "dry tropics" but can have extreme wet seasons (like this one - over 200mm on one day last week) which flush the soil well and drain quickly in this area.

Use intended is for a few garden plants for personal use.

A coffee bush is doing well on this site without special measures.


Time: 27th March 2010 3:52pm

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About the Author tropical new thumb
Townsville
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Ross says...
I tried to grow 2 tea bushes in Brisbane.
I bought 8 bags of azalea mix and filled 2 large holes with the mix(a must for tea trees). I placed them on the eastern side of a hill and protected from western sun by coffee trees. The area was also totally protected from wind. As far as I was concerned I provided an ideal situation and they still only lasted for 1 season before both plants died. I think they require a cooler climate similar to camellia growing conditions. Best of luck trying to grow them in Townsville. Coffee trees grows like weeds in our back yard so is not a true indication of how well the tea bush will grow.

Time: 29th March 2010 10:18pm

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Mr Urban Orchard says...


Just checking ... i am in the search for a cutting of the Camellia Sinensis and or assam ( tea leaf plant ) ! If i buy seed... which are hard enough to find or a seedling i still have to wait 3 years to harvest ... where as a cutting i assume, would be ready to go after a good growing season. If you can help i am happy to pay postage . thanks for your time

take care

Time: 17th July 2011 6:31pm

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About the Author ANDY1
COPACABANA nsw
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Jantina says...
Diggers have tea plants for sale, they won't be big plants though. I bought a tea plant from Botanic Ark in Warragal (don't think that's spelt correctly) Vic. He does not do mail order to my knowledge.
I'd give you a cutting but the rabbits ate it.

Time: 19th July 2011 10:01am

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Mt Gambier
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Nick says...
Bunnings occasionally stock tea plants (pretty decent looking too).

Time: 19th July 2011 6:04pm

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About the Author Nick T
Altona, VIC
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