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Olives are Mediterranean plants so thrive in conditions closest to the hot, dry climate of their native habitat. Choose the sunniest and most sheltered spot available – a south-facing spot with a brick wall behind it will work well. If you don’t have the right conditions, check out more trees for small gardens.
How do you grow an olive tree at home?
How to Grow Olives Outdoors. For olive tree care outdoors, plant your olive tree where it will get a minimum of 6-8 hours of sun per day, and preferably full sun all day with plenty of light. Choose a site with very well drained soil; olive trees don’t tolerate heavy, clayey soils and it must drain easily.
How long does it take to grow an olive tree?
Most olive trees take about three years to come into maturity and begin to set noticeable amounts of fruit. To increase fruit set, it is recommended that you plant more than one cultivar close together. Olive trees like to be planted in well drained soil in a sunny area of the landscape.
Can you grow olive trees in pots?
If you don’t have a garden or you’re short on space, you can still grow olives. They will happily grow in large pots – just make sure they have plenty of sunshine! Choose a pot at least 600mm wide. Position in full sun and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.
How do I care for an olive tree?
Olive trees require a well-drained soil and a sunny position. Avoid sites where water stands during rainy periods or where ground water seeps into a hole two feet deep. Do not, however, confuse the olive for a desert plant. It needs regular watering to thrive.
Are olive trees easy to grow?
They are easy to care for. Olive trees are low maintenance plants. They are drought tolerant and prefer dry soil and air, regular watering, and six hours of daily sunlight. Their adaptability means that they are cold hardy, yet can handle warmer temperatures as well.
Can I grow olive tree indoors?
Olive trees are ancient plants. Because they don’t thrive indoors over the long run, it’s best to move potted olives outside or plant them in the ground when the weather warms up. If you grow an olive as a houseplant, choose a dwarf variety. Dwarf olives can grow to 6 feet, but you can prune them to keep them shorter.
How big is a 2 year old olive tree?
When planted in the ground they can reach heights up to 20 feet and they will need 12 feet of spacing. You can grow them in a container in ALL zones. When container-grown they will reach a height of about 5-6 feet tall.
How tall do olive trees grow in pots?
Size. Although olive trees can reach up to ten feet in containers, unless your ceilings are particularly high you’ll probably want to opt for a dwarf variety. Dwarf olive trees will grow as tall as six feet, although you can keep them shorter by pruning them.
Do olive trees need a lot of water?
Olive trees are very drought resistant; however, they still require water to survive. Water an establishing olive tree once weekly for the first year or anytime the top 2” of soil becomes dry. After an olive tree is established, deep watering once monthly is sufficient.
Do olive trees need big pots?
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. When you need to re-pot your olive, choose a pot just a few inches larger.
What kind of pots do olive trees like?
Container choice Most people grow Olive Trees in terracotta or wood containers being more breathable to help with drainage. Plastic pots are lighter and therefore easier to move though.
How much sunlight do olive trees need?
“They require six or seven hours of sunlight to thrive, so put them in your sunniest window, preferably south-facing,” says Clay.
Are olive trees hard to care for?
Growing a potted olive tree indoors has become popular. One reason people are taking to olive trees as houseplants is that caring for olive trees inside is easy. These trees tolerate dry air and dry soil too, making it an easy-care houseplant.
What fertilizer is best for olive trees?
Established olive trees require fertilizer to stay healthy and produce every year. They need a balanced fertilizer with a 16-16-16 nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium ratio or similar.
Should I bring my olive tree inside for winter?
Never bring your olive trees indoors in winter. Outside, bring them as close as possible to a window so that they may benefit from the warmth of the house. Mulch the base of your olive trees to protect them from the cold. Wrap the pots with a thick cover, and avoid letting rain fall in.
Where is the best place to grow an olive tree?
Olives are Mediterranean plants so thrive in conditions closest to the hot, dry climate of their native habitat. Choose the sunniest and most sheltered spot available – a south-facing spot with a brick wall behind it will work well.
Can you eat olives off the tree?
Are olives edible off the branch? While olives are edible straight from the tree, they are intensely bitter. Olives contain oleuropein and phenolic compounds, which must be removed or, at least, reduced to make the olive palatable.
How much space do olive trees need?
Normally olive trees are spaced about 20 ft apart, because that is the ultimate size of an olive tree. Even compact growing varieties ultimately will get this big unless continuously pruned to keep them smaller.
