There are groves of extremely old olive trees planted by the ancient Greeks and Romans still producing fruit throughout the Mediterranean and several thriving specimens believed to be at least 2, to 3, years old.
These beautiful trees are easy to care for and grow well even in poor or stony soils. Their silvery foliage will shimmer in the summer sun and brighten up the bare winter garden. Olives planted close to a warm wall where they can bask in the sunshine will be the happiest. The olive tree is slow-growing and is therefore ideal for pot-growing; it will thrive in a large pot in a bright spot on the patio or balcony, or in an unheated conservatory or greenhouse.
In cold or northern regions, winter protection in a conservatory, for example, will be required. Dig a hole twice the size of the root-ball, spreading the roots as you refill the hole to the base of the stem.
Press the soil down with the heel of a boot. When you need to re-pot your olive, choose a pot just a few inches larger. Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes and put some gravel or crocks in the bottom. We recommend using a terracotta, rather than plastic, container and a sandy or loamy compost.
Whether your olive is planted in the ground or in a pot it is essential to ensure maximum drainage. If growing an olive tree on heavy clay soil you should dig in plenty of gravel to prevent waterlogging the roots. Growing olive trees in the backyard orchard or in a container is not only possible, but easy and very rewarding.
Learn how to plant an olive tree with this Olive Tree Planting Guide; it will lead you in the right direction for a healthy and thriving fruit tree! Growing Olives Olive plants do best where the summers are long, hot and dry, and the winters are cool and not so dry.
They are native to Mediterranean climates. They like a sharply drained calcareous or limey soil, and can tolerate salty , coastal locations. Many varieties of olive trees require cross-pollination ; that is, you need at least two different varieties to reliably get olive tree fruit. Perfect Plants offers the Arbequina olive variety Olea europaea which is self-fertile and a semi evergreen tree.
Where do Olives Grow? Where not cold hardy, you can grow Arbequina olives trees in a pot to be brought indoors in the winter months. The Arbequina olive is semi-deciduous, usually dropping some of its attractive gray-green leaves in the winter. Arbequina tends to bear heaviest in alternate years, and fruiting may be increased when another variety is nearby for cross pollination. It is also pest and disease resistant, especially to fungal diseases.
Once established, arbequina olive tree care requires little maintenance! Under good growing conditions, you should expect to harvest some olives by the time the trees are years old.
How to Grow Olives Outdoors For olive tree care outdoors, plant your olive tree where it will get a minimum of hours of sun per day, and preferably full sun all day with plenty of light. You may be wondering how fast do olive trees grow?
Arbequinas can get up to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide, so plan ahead. Multiple trees should be spaced about feet apart. They prefer dry air. The large, fleshy olives are the most common green table olives in the U. Can also be planted near walkways, driveways, entryways and other high-traffic areas without concern for oily stains. Small, narrow, gray-green leaves give it an airy appearance. Exceptionally heat, drought, and salt tolerant. The fruits are small but fleshy and have a mild, fruity flavor and high oil content.
One of the most cold-tolerant varieties. One of the earliest to bear fruit, often a year or two after planting. Get plant information, gardening solutions, design inspiration and more in our weekly newsletter.
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Discover unique garden products curated by the Garden Design editors, plus items you can use to solve problems in your garden right now, and best sellers from around the web. By Anne Balogh Share:. Climate requirements: Olive trees grow best in regions with hot, dry summers and mild but cool winters. Exposure: Full sun Size: 15 to 30 feet tall; 6 to 8 feet for dwarf varieties Growth rate: Slow, about 1 to 2 feet per year Flowers: Small creamy white and yellow flowers bloom in spring.
Foliage: Feather-shaped, with a gray-green upper surface and lighter silvery white underside.
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