Article: There are two main types of tea plants. Sinensis is recommended because it is hardy and you can make black, green, and white tea from its leaves. You can buy seeds from the local nursery or order them online.  You will need about 2 to 3 square feet (1 square meter) of space once the sinensis begins to grow.  Assamica is another type of tea plant. It’s not recommended to grow this type of tea plant unless you live in a tropical climate. Also, this is a “large tree” plant, so it requires at least 5 feet (1.5 m) once it begins to grow. You can make the same type of tea from this plant as you would from the sinensis. It’s also an option to cut the stalk from an existing plant or buy a plant from the nursery. You can choose this option if you don’t want to go through the process of germinating the seeds. If you choose to start with a plant, you will need to nurture it indoors for a year before moving it outside. It is best to begin nurturing it indoors during the spring or fall so that you can move it outside during the spring or fall, which is the best time to plant tea. Put your seeds into a bowl or container of water. Make sure there is enough water so that the seeds are completely submerged. Let the seeds soak for 24 to 48 hours. Allowing them to soak helps the seeds absorb water, which speeds up the process of germination. Take the seeds out of the water, and place 2 to 3 seeds each into separate containers. Place the containers in a warm, sunny location. Spray the seeds to dampen them. Wait a few minutes for the seeds to come back to air temperature. Then, cover the seeds with 1 inch (2.5 cm) of coarse vermiculite—a brown mineral that helps the seeds retain moisture. Let the seeds germinate for 6 to 8 weeks.  The number of containers you use depends on how many seeds you have. You can purchase coarse vermiculite at a nursery. During the 6 to 8 weeks, check the vermiculite daily to see how dry or damp it is. If it’s dry, water the seeds. Do not soak the seeds. The soil should stay damp at all times. It is a best to use a spray bottle to avoid overwatering the plants. After 6 to 8 weeks, check to see if they have fully germinated. Germinated seeds will have produced small roots and a couple of sprouts. Seeds will often germinate at different rates, so wait until most or all of the seeds have germinated to plant them in pots.

What is a summary?
Buy Camellia sinensis seeds for best results. Start with the plant if you want to jumpstart the growing process. Soak the seeds. Put the seeds into containers with vermiculite. Keep the vermiculite damp. Make sure the seeds have fully germinated.