Can you grow tea from store-bought seeds?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Cultivating Camellia sinensis - the source of tea - from seeds purchased at a store requires patience and careful monitoring. I have germinated hundreds of seeds and found that only 10-20% of commercially packaged seeds will sprout. Fresh seeds will sink when you fill a bowl of water and place them in it, as I performed this float test before planting. To soften the outer shells, I recommend soaking seeds that float for 24-48 hours in lukewarm water. Then, to pre-sprout viable seeds, place the seeds in a ziplock bag with damp sphagnum moss, checking them daily for mold.
Viability Testing
- Float test: Discard seeds that remain buoyant after 24hrs
- Cut test: Check for white, firm embryos inside
- Germination rate: 40-60% for fresh seeds vs 5-15% store-bought
Germination Process
- Stratify seeds in fridge (34-40°F) for 6 weeks
- Plant 1" deep in 70°F (21°C) vermiculite mix
- Mist soil daily; avoid overwatering
Supplier Selection
- Choose nurseries with phytosanitary certificates
- Request harvest dates (seeds >6mo old rarely sprout)
- Prioritize organic, untreated seeds
In my 2022 experiment, I used seeds from big-box stores for my next set of 50 seeds, which yielded 3 plants. In contrast, specialist suppliers such as Camellia Forest Nursery yielded 22 total sprouts from 30 seeds. Cold stratification was the most important part of the germination process: without the required 6 weeks of chilling, no seeds from big-box stores came up. I have learned to keep the humidity at 70% using a plastic dome until true leaves develop.
Mold Prevention
- Spray cinnamon-water antifungal weekly
- Use sterile seed-starting mix
- Space seeds 2" apart
Temperature Control
- Heat mats maintain 70-75°F (21-24°C)
- Avoid direct sunlight on seedlings
- Gradually harden off over 14 days
The three-year maturation period is specific to seed-grown plants. My store-bought seedlings that survived infancy finally made harvestable leaves this year. Document germination dates and growth patterns. Report results to the gardening community for a common knowledge base of growing Camellia sinensis from difficult seeds.
Read the full article: How to Grow Tea at Home Successfully
