Olive Tree Care Temperature
While the tree can handle temperatures just below freezing consider planting it close to a building so the tree retains more heat on cold days.
Olive tree care temperature. For example the spanish arbequina olive variety needs to be exposed to temperatures around 7 c for at least 300 consecutive hours. Temperatures of long duration in the mid teens can cause very serious damage to larger branches and trunks and the extent of the damage may not be evident for some time. It needs a drop in daytime and nighttime temperatures as well as about two months of temperatures below 50 degree f to stimulate flowering. While olive trees are hardy down to 10 c a frigid wind can be devastating to young olive trees.
Olive trees are not very cold hardy and will need to be brought indoors in usda zones 6 and lower some varieties are even more cold sensitive so check to make sure. Serious cold damage to olive tree branches mainly starts at 5 c though lesser damage to fast growing branch tips could occur at 3 c if frost is present. If winter temperatures below 17 degrees f are expected cover the tree with a blanket or tarp. Remove the soil in march.
Olive tree care once your new olive tree is planted it is a good idea to provide drip irrigation as the tree will need water every day especially during the summer months throughout its first year. The areas where olive trees are cultivated for commercial use must have an average annual temperature of 60 68 f 15 20 c. Lower temperatures than this can cause serious damage to the trees. Bring your container grown olive trees indoors before temperatures fall toward freezing.
Olives are self fertile but if you decide to plant your tree outdoors you ll get a bigger harvest by planting another tree for cross pollination. Transplants from the nursery grow well when planted in well drained soil in full sun. Usually the intensity of the cold required and the duration of it depends on the local climate where the variety was developed. Pile one and one half feet of soil around the base of the tree and up the trunk.
Prepare the olive tree for winter in late november. Damage from cold is exacerbated when the temperature swings sharply from very warm to very cold conditions over a short period of time as occurs during cold fronts. Impact of freezing on olive tree flower formation the best optimal flower formation happens when daily temperatures in winter are as follows. Serious cold damage to olive tree branches begins at 22 degrees though lesser damage to fast growing branch tips can occur at 27 degrees if frost is present.
Mexican olive trees feature high drought tolerance and frost resistance making them a great choice for the garden. The absolute maximum temperature can reach 104 f 40 c without causing damage but the minimum should not fall below 20 f 7 c. During these hours flower buds mature and form to get ready to bloom.