Anybody grown Camellia Sinensis

Today I retired, my colleagues gave me three Camellia sinensis as a leaving present.
I have bored them for years about a wide variety of plants so probably appropriate.
So any tips/advice please.

 

Congratulations.

Tea. grow your own.

 

Congratulations @NigelJ , welcome to the "permanent gardening leave club," as I call it. I only have ornamental Camellia, but I don't think they have very different requirements. They prefer slightly acid soil, but mine are directly in London. Clay and are generally OK. I do use an ericaceous liquid feed on them.

 

Congratulations @NigelJ - you will find you don't have as much time as you expected!
I seem to remember reading that someone has planted it to grow UK sourced tea. Might be worth investigating to see where and how

 

Retired lets party.. have a sleep in especially on Mondays lol

Spruce

 

There was a place growing lots of it in the UK on TV a while ago,cant remember where exactly but somewhere down SW.

 

I believe they like the same as Azaleas. Rhodos and Gardenias. I have the first and last but I cannot advise on growing them there.

I think @Jenny namaste grows them successfully on the South coast.

 

I'm thinking ericaceous soil and not getting too dry in summer and as usual shelter from the cold easterlies.
The plants came from Tregothnan near Truro where they have been growing tea since 2005. There is also a tea plantation near Harrogate and several in Scotland.
Apparently flowers in autumn/winter with scented white flowers.

 

Advice from an 'older' person.
Try to work everyday. More hours =more reward.
Realise you will need more money as you will have time to spend it.
Never put off to tomorrow-it may not come.
Think you are (just)18, but know where you are going.

 

I am either going down hill rapidly; or to hell in a handbasket.