Olive Tree Planting Uk
Planting in spring will give your olive tree plenty of time to establish before next winter but it may be a good idea to bring the tree inside during prolonged cold spells.
Olive tree planting uk. So in colder areas of the country you can grow olives in large 60cm 2ft diameter and depth containers. Whether you grow them in the ground or in a large container they will add an instant touch of the mediterranean and may sometimes in hot summers and southern gardens reward you with a heavy crop of attractive looking fruit that need special preparation to make them edible. Can i plant my olive tree outdoors. If growing in a container or raised bed prepare a soil based mix of compost and grit with added organic matter and nutrients.
Olives are drought tolerant evergreen trees with shimmering silvery foliage that love to bask in a warm sunny and sheltered position. While olive trees are very hardy and almost indestructible olive trees need to be ready for life in the british climate. If you re growing your olive tree in a border dig a hole and add mycorrhizal fungi to help the tree establish quickly. How to plant olive trees.
An unheated greenhouse or light porch is ideal. Some varieties of olive trees can grow up to 10 feet tall and while we are championing the notion of bigger is better a 10 foot olive tree might be pushing the boundary. It is not necessary or even advisable to dig a hole several times larger than the root ball. Olive trees may be planted at any time of year as long as the ground isn t frozen.
The olive tree is an evergreen that flourishes in hot dry areas and as such will not do well in wet winter soil. Olive trees need at least three months a year of cold weather to flower and fruit. Prepare the hole before removing the tree from its pot. Growing olive trees in the uk.
The procedure for planting your olive tree in the ground is essentially the same as for re potting it. Olives are hardy and frost resistant to 15c without the need to fleece. Olive trees are tougher than you think but try and choose a sunny sheltered well drained position and plant in spring after the risk of frost has passed but before the end of june to give the tree plenty of time to establish before the following winter. Olive trees like to be planted in well drained soil in a sunny area of the landscape.
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. If you have heavy soil then add plenty of grit to aid drainage. They are wind resistant and drought hardy a winning combination that means olive trees are truly easy to grow.