Olive Tree In Container Uk
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.
Olive tree in container uk. Growing olive trees in suffolk uk duration. As with most pot grown plants olive trees do not like frozen roots. Leave an inch between the soil and the rim of the container so you ll have room to water. Olive trees in pots can be moved to a more sheltered site or into a bright porch or greenhouse over winter but remember that the tree will need a fluctuation between day and night time temperatures and a 2 month period of temperatures below 10 c to produce flowers and fruit.
Place your container grown olive trees in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of full sunlight each day. Water the olive tree when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry. Allow space for ease drainage from the soil. Poke your finger into the soil to determine if it is time to water.
Planting in a container after the threat of frost has passed prepare your container and soil mix. A good quality plastic pot however has the benefit of being more lightweight and less prone to breakage. Place the tree in the new container and add more soil no deeper than it was in the original pot. Olive trees like extremely well draining rocky soil.
How to growing olive trees in containers. Make sure not to overwater. Another dwarf fruitless variety is little ollie. Use a saucer underneath the container to catch any unwanted drips.
So in colder areas of the country you can grow olives in large 60cm 2ft diameter and depth containers. Name olea europea family oleaceae type fruit tree. Remove the olive tree from the container you purchased it in and gently shake off the soil from the roots. Potted olive tree key facts.
Plant your tree in a mix of potting soil and perlite or small rocks. Foliage evergreen harvest september to december. When selecting a container opt for clay or wood. 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.
Caring pruning and watering all take a part in letting potted olive trees grow well and bear olives. If grown in the ground majestic beauty can get to 25 feet tall but in a container it will stay a nice patio tree size well under 8 feet. Fill the container to within 1 inch of the rim of the pot and water the olive tree until water runs from the bottom of the pot. In winter allow the tree to dry out a bit more to within 4 or 5 inches of the soil s surface.
Plastic containers retain more water which can be deadly for an olive tree. Once the previous soil has been removed gently trim off any dead or dying roots.