Olive Tree Container Growing
Potted trees will need to be watered more often than trees planted in the ground.
Olive tree container growing. 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. They re hardy only in usda zones 8 and warmer and start to die when temperatures hit the mid teens. Water the rooted olive tree cutting in its original container. A good quality plastic pot however has the benefit of being more lightweight and less prone to breakage.
Plant your tree in a mix of potting soil and perlite or small rocks. Dig a hole at least 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep. Drill extra holes in the bottom of the container if you feel there aren t enough. Allow the soil to dry somewhat before watering then water until the soil is soaked.
Plant the olive tree in the largest pot you can find and make sure it has good drainage. The trees are very adaptable and drought tolerant which makes them ideal for container life. Olives are pretty low maintenance great for someone who is new to growing fruit trees or who likes plants that don t mind a little neglect. Can withstand hot baking sunlight.
Full sunlight find the sunniest area on your patio or porch to grow your container olive tree. Unless you are growing an olive tree for a strictly ornamental purpose it is most advisable to plant a specimen with a single trunk for ease of harvest. Come spring the trees are wheeled out to the sunshine again. Not all of us can grow these trees for fruit or oil.
Olive trees like extremely well draining rocky soil. Olive trees are usually purchased in either 4 inch pots with numerous side branches and a height of 18 24 inches or in a 1 gallon pot with a single trunk and a height of 4 5 feet. The root ball should be thoroughly moist before transplanting. Growing olive trees in containers is not difficult as long as you pay close attention to certain requirements and are growing it within usda hardiness zones 8 to 11.
A sunny balcony and the right climate are the essential things. Full sun to bright partial shade. Italians have grown fruit trees in containers for centuries keeping them protected in special sheds during the winter. Allow the water to soak the roots for at least 30 minutes before planting.
You can still own a fruiting olive tree grown in a container. The best time to start growing olive trees in containers is spring after all threat of frost has passed. The normal healthy potted olive tree will need fertilizer twice a year once in the spring and once mid summer. But we can enjoy olive trees olea europea in containers indoors at least for short periods of time.
When growing olive trees in containers terracotta or wood is a preferable choice as these are more breathable and will help with drainage and insulation. These trees thrive in full sunlight 6 hours daily and can tolerate even the hottest most direct sunlight your area has to offer.