Some facts about the olive tree
Emblematic of Provence and the Mediterranean regions, and symbol of peace, wisdom and longevity, the Olea europaea, more commonly called the olive tree, is a fruit tree which brings an undeniable aesthetic touch with its evergreen silver-green foliage and its ornamental trunk.
Because the olive tree grows slowly and takes many years to establish itself, you will have to be patient between 7 and 8 years old to benefit from a first harvest of green or black olives depending on their degree of maturity. The harvest season can extend from September to December.
It varies depending on light, temperatures, local conditions and how you want to use your olives. If you collect them at the start of the season, while they are still green, you will not be able to eat them directly, but will have to brine them first.
The longer you wait to pick them, the more they will ripen, darken until black and have a milder taste. Even though this tree can eventually reach a good height, its roots are not invasive, which is an advantage if you want to install it near a home, a swimming pool, etc.
Choose your olive tree wisely
The selection criteria
The first criterion to guarantee the success of growing an olive tree is, of course, to choose the right olive tree. If you can find small olive trees from 20 €you will then have to arm yourself with a lot of patience, because, as we have seen, its growth is slow.
Other, more expensive models are already larger, which saves time. Generally speaking, it is recommended to plant an olive tree over 5 years old, which will be more resistant to cold. In all cases, choose a local purchase, because a tree whose country of origin is the same as that where it will be grown encounters fewer acclimatization problems. To be sure to put all the chances on your side, here are some other criteria to check when purchasing:
- The foliage must be healthy, without spots.
- The roots must not be bare or visible and the olive tree must not be placed on the ground.
- The root ball should not move in the pot.
Olive varieties
The olive tree comes in different varieties, which gives you the opportunity to choose the one that best suits your growing conditions, including climate and soil type. The best known varieties are:
- The ‘Picholine’ variety : This variety from Gard is the most widespread in France and is often used for the production of olive oil. Its hardiness is announced down to -11°C. Although this tree prefers rich, drained soils, it tolerates different types.
- The variety ‘Aglandau’ : Also called berguette, is a variety widespread in Provence. It prefers well-drained limestone or clay-limestone soils, even if they are poor. It is characterized by its green foliage with an ash-white underside and its more spreading habit with flexible branches which tend to droop.
- If you want an olive tree that is more resistant to cold, you can opt for the ‘Tanche’ variety with a ball shape and wider leaves Originally from Drôme, this variety should be grown in drained, stony and limestone soil.
Growing your olive tree in the ground or in a pot?
Beyond your personal desire and what the configuration of your exterior imposes on you, the climate of your region plays a very important role in the choice of the method of cultivation of your olive tree. Indeed, if you live in a region where winters are harsh and temperatures can frequently drop up to -10°Cor even more, you must opt for a pot culture.
This will allow you to protect your olive tree from frost in the bad season by installing it in a cool, bright and rather dry room. If you still want to install it in the ground, you will need to protect it from the cold using a winter cover.
Determine Planting Location
Exposure
The best exposure for an olive tree is directly south. In fact, it appreciates full sun and, for its development, needs at least 6 hours of sunshine per day. But be careful, this location must also be sheltered from the winds, because it fears strong winds, especially in areas where winter temperatures are low.
Ground
The power of its root system allows it to adapt to many types of soil, but it develops optimally in the following types of soil:
- Soil from lean to poor : If the soil in your garden is rather rich, your olive tree risks producing more branches than fruit.
- Perfectly drained soil : It fears excess humidity.
- Very slightly alkaline soil : To put everything on your side, you can carry out a soil test on your land, which will allow you to know its composition and pH. The recommended pH is generally between 6 and 8, which means that if the soil you are going to plant it in is more acidic than that, it would be wise to add lime to restore the balance.
When to plant an olive tree?
Whether you plant your olive tree in a pot or in the ground, it is preferable to favor planting in spring. When planting in the ground, be sure to wait until all risk of frost has passed and the soil has started to warm up, which will allow it to quickly produce new roots. In any case, avoid planting it when it is too hot or too cold.
How to plant an olive tree in the ground?
In the ground, planting the olive tree takes place in two stages: preparation of the hole and the planting itself.
Prepare the planting hole
- Dig a hole of a size suitable for the root ball of the tree to be planted. Generally speaking, the dimensions to respect are:
- For the diameter : The diameter of the root ball to which you add approximately 80 cm:
- For depth: The height of the root ball to which you add 30 cm.
- At the bottom of the hole, decompact the earth well.
- Once the soil is well decompacted, install a drainage bed approximately 20 cm thick at the bottom of the hole, made up of three layers: one of pebbles, one of gravel and one of sand.
- Finally, cover this drainage layer with a mixture of soil and peat. Avoid adding fertilizer, as it may cause the roots to dry out.
The plantation itself
- Take the root ball out of the pot and water it generously.
- Before planting your olive tree, it is recommended to remove the branches located above the root ball and to greatly reduce the branches to facilitate recovery.
- Then position the olive tree in the hole, taking care not to plant it too deeply. The root ball should simply be covered with a few centimeters of soil. You can even raise it about ten centimeters above ground level to create a sort of mound which will encourage the flow of water. But even in this case, be careful to cover it with a layer of soil of at least 5 centimeters in order to protect the roots.
- Fill the hole with soil, then tamp it down enough to eliminate any air pockets.
- Finally, water abundantly.
How to plant an olive tree in a pot?
Choose a pot large enough to allow the root system to develop. The larger the pot, the more your olive tree will be able to grow. The pot must be pierced to ensure drainage and, preferably, made of terracotta, because this material limits excessive temperature variations and allows the roots to breathe. Here is how to plant in a pot:
- Install a fairly thick layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot. You can use clay balls.
- Cover this drainage layer with potting soil.
- Prepare your olive tree, as described in the explanations for planting in the ground, and position it in the pot so that the base of the trunk is level with the upper edge of the pot, which will allow you to create a small mound which will arrive a few centimeters below the upper edge of the pot for easier watering.
- Fill the pot with the substrate composed of potting soil, garden soil and sand.
- Pack and water thoroughly to finish settling the substrate.
Once planted in a pot, the olive tree can be grown outdoors or indoors.
Watering
It is a tree that tolerates heat and periods of drought. However, if you grow it in a pot, it will be necessary to carry out regular watering during the first years. On the other hand, if you grow it in the ground, watering will only be necessary during prolonged periods of drought. In any case, be careful not to water excessively, because you must not drown the roots.