INTRODUCTION
The olive tree is mentioned right through the Old Testament and was an early source of food, light, hygiene and healing during Biblical times.
The olive tree prefers a temperate climate with warm summers and cool winters. It tends to hibernate each winter before flowering and producing fruit in the warmer months.
Olives trees can be planted in large tubs and 20 years later, they should still be growing and producing fruit, providing they are looked after with water and occasional fertiliser. If you are trying to create a Mediterranean look, place a couple of half wine barrels planted with an olive tree near the swimming pool.
The trees produce small, white, fragrant flowers, which form in clusters on a single stem and only a few olives develop on each flowering stem regardless of the number of flowers. The olives are picked when green or after they have started to turn black. In addition to being used for pickling, they are a very important oil crop.

HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO TRY.

Photo on left of an Olive tree topiary growing in a pot.

Olive trees can be pruned and shaped into Bonsai or Topiary and can be espaliered onto fences and trellis.

Young seedling olive plants can often be found growing under old olive trees and they can easily be turned into Bonsai.
For more information click here to see our fact sheets on Bonsai.

GROWING CONDITIONS
SOIL
Olives trees prefer a neutral to a slightly alkaline soil, and are tolerant of mild saline conditions ;- they will also endure a wide range of environments. They will grow in hilly and rocky territories where other crops will not readily survive. Olive trees object to very heavy clay soils which are constantly wet.

STAKING
Young olive trees need to be staked, due to their early wispy type growth. The stakes should be strong enough to support the tree until the support roots have developed strongly enough to hold the tree in place. Fasten the main trunk to the stake loosely so that it can manoeuvre easily in the wind - this will help encourage stronger root development in the tree's early growing stage.

WATERING
The trees need a good amount of water during the winter season to push the olive tree into vigorous growth for spring flowering and prolific fruit set. When the fruit has set, give an additional watering to help achieve a good fruit size and high oil content.
Trees that are growing in tubs or pots need to be watered like a normal pot plant, but not as often.

FERTILIZING
A dressing of well rotted manure ( Cow Manure ) worked in autumn after the fruit has been harvested will conserve moisture in the soil and add nutrient.
REMEMBER Cow manure that is too fresh will burn the roots.

PRUNING
This should be conducted after the fruit is harvested in the Autumn. If you are not sure how to prune your trees, then you should be limited to removing dead branches, and keeping ample light to the centre of the tree.
The correct pruning procedure is important for the olive tree. Pruning adjusts production and shapes the tree for easier harvest. The trees can tolerate radical clipping, so it is comparatively easy to control the trees at a desired height. The difficulty of alternate bearing can be avoided with cautious pruning every year. Keep in mind that olive trees never bear fruit in the same place twice, and the trees will usually bear on the previous year's growth. To create a single tree trunk, prune any suckers and branches growing underneath the position where you wish the branch crown to form.

POLLINATION
The small, fragrant flowers are cream-coloured, grow on a long stem arising from the leaf axils and are mainly camouflaged by the evergreen foliage. The olive tree produces two kinds of flowers:- a perfect flower containing both male and female parts, and a staminate flower with stamens only. The flowers are mainly wind pollinated and most of the olive varieties are self-pollinating, although fruit set is normally improved by cross pollination with other varieties. There are self-incompatible varieties that do not set fruit without another variety nearby, and there are varieties that are incompatible with certain species. Incompatibility can sometimes occur because of environmental conditions, for example, high temperatures.

PEST
Olives can be attacked by brown olive scale and the olive lace bug - two pests that may infect your prized trees. The scale insect is readily controlled when it is at a young stage and has a soft shell. Adult scale and the lace bugs are best controlled with systemic spray. If your olive tree is kept in a good healthy condition, the chance of insect attack is minimal. Also watch out for ants, they carry disease. Click here to see our fact sheets on Ants.

Click here for a recipe using olives.