Olive Tree Uk Growing
The olive tree is slow growing and is therefore ideal for pot growing.
Olive tree uk growing. The olive tree olea europaea is a classic mediterranean tree that we might associate more with holidays than our own back garden. Despite being a mediterranean plant an olive tree needs at least two months cold weather to produce flower and fruit. The care and feeding of olive trees 02 09 2015 planting olive trees require a well drained soil and a sunny position. To increase fruit set it is recommended that you plant more than one cultivar close together.
Growing olive trees in the uk. The english climate is perfect for growing an olive tree. An olive tree needs the sunniest spot available in your garden. In cold or northern regions winter protection in a conservatory for example will be required.
Olives are hardy and frost resistant to 15c without the need to fleece. Temperatures below 10 degrees celsius along with a fluctuation in night and daytime temperatures initiates the fruiting process. The uk climate is surprisingly well suited to growing olives. Olive trees need at least three months a year of cold weather to flower and fruit.
Olives are not entirely hardy in the uk and will be damaged by temperatures below 10 c 14 f with young plants suffering after lighter frosts. They can be grown in borders but make good container plants too. Olive trees like to be planted in well drained soil in a sunny area of the landscape. It will thrive in a large pot in a bright spot on the patio or balcony or in an unheated conservatory or greenhouse.
Olives are drought tolerant evergreen trees with shimmering silvery foliage that love to bask in a warm sunny and sheltered position. Whether you grow them in the ground or in a large container they will add an instant touch of the mediterranean and may sometimes in hot summers and southern gardens reward you with a heavy crop of attractive looking fruit that need special preparation to make them edible. Positioning is everything when it comes to growing olive trees in containers. This means that can be put outside in a sheltered location with lots of sun for most of the year and then moved to a more sheltered location in the winter time when temperatures start to cool below 10 degrees c.
However they make good street trees and garden trees in the uk with attractive pale green evergreen leaves slow growing habit and compact size. Tips for growing olive trees in containers 1 position your olive tree carefully. The best way to grow olive trees in the uk is to keep them in pots. It needs regular watering to thrive.
So in colder areas of the country you can grow olives in large 60cm 2ft diameter and depth containers. Avoid sites where water stands during rainy periods or where ground water seeps into a hole two feet deep. Most olive trees take about three years to come into maturity and begin to set noticeable amounts of fruit. How to grow olive trees.