Olive Tree: How to Grow and Maintain Tips

Olea europaea, or olive tree, is a fruit-bearing or fruitless tree typically found in 8-10 zones worldwide. Olive trees are evergreen and indigenous to the Mediterranean region. With an average height ranging from 15 to 30 feet (tall variety) and 6 to 8 feet (dwarf variety), it has a slow growth rate. Long, hot summers and brief, chilly winters are ideal for olive tree growth. 

Table olives and olive oil are the primary products of the olive tree. The leaves, timber, core, and other byproducts are economically significant. The olive tree is substantial since it uses areas that cannot support other crops and works to prevent soil erosion. As a last decorative option, olive trees are frequently cultivated in pots indoors or outside.

Before buying one, you must be aware of some of the essential factors and features of the olive tree.

Olive tree: Quick facts 

Scientific name	Olea europaea
Common names	Montra, little olive or dwarf olive
Type	Small tree or shrub
Area	Mediterranean, Australia
Adequate Soil	Loamy soil
Water	Drought tolerant
Flower size	8-10 centimetres
Flower colour	White
Height	10-40 feet
Toxic	No

 

Olive tree: Varieties and physical descriptions

There are 30 different species in the genus Olea, and they are grown on five different continents. Some of them are:

Little olive dwarf 

This miniature, 6-8 feet tall, non-fruiting hybrid, prized for its thick leaf and mounded shrub-like shape, can be trained as a single-trunk specimen for planting in containers or along pathways. It can be clipped and sheared to produce formal hedges or topiaries. It is exceptionally resistant to heat, drought, and salt.

Source: Pinterest 

See also: How to grow and care for Kachnar trees?

Olive of Arbequina

A lovely Catalan variety of 15-20 feet tall in width, from Spain, compact habit and a weeping shape. The fruits have a pleasant, fruity flavour, are tiny, fleshy, and contain a lot of oil.

Source: Pinterest

Fernando olive

One of the most celebrated olive oils in the world is produced by this magnificent tree 20 feet from Tuscany. It is also a stunning landscape plant with a wide, open canopy of eye-catching silvery-grey leaves. Its product is used to manufacture perfumes.

Source: Pinterest

Olive tree: Growing the plant

You can grow olive trees either indoors or outdoors. 

Outdoor olive plantation

Do not make the mistake of planting an olive tree during the sweltering summer. After the risk of frost has passed, spring is the ideal time to grow. It would help if you used places where temperatures do not drop below 20°C for fall planting because newly planted trees are vulnerable to frost damage during the first winter. 

Plant away from paved areas, where the soil is not too wet, and in full sun to prevent fruit stains (unless growing a fruitless variety). One should do planting in something other than low regions where standing water collects. 

Indoor olive plantation

You can plant an olive tree in a container that you can transfer indoors. It is a terrific alternative if you reside in a cold area where an olive tree will not survive outdoors during the winter. The following advice will help you successfully cultivate an olive tree indoors:

• Please put it in a location with at least eight hours of direct sunshine each day, like a south-facing window.
• Use a potting soil mixture that drains freely, and plant your tree in a sizable container with good drainage.
• Select a kind of dwarf olive tree that will not reach a height of more than six feet. You can even cultivate it as a bonsai.
• Apply a slow-release fertiliser twice a year, in the spring and the middle of the summer.

Source: Pinterest 

Olive tree: Maintenance of the plant

Only buying an olive tree is not enough. It demands proper care, which includes the following.

Watering 

Once established, olive trees are quite drought-tolerant. Still, you should water them frequently for healthy flowering and fruit development during the growing season, especially if you live in a hot, dry area.

In spring and summer, use a soaker hose or drip irrigation system to deeply water newly planted trees twice a week. Depending on the rainfall amount, you may not require any additional watering.

Pruning

To get rid of old and diseased branches, it is ideal to start pruning after the spring buds have done flowering and to stop until the fruit has ripened in the fall. Trim branches by cutting off the tips before the fresh leaves contact the branch. 

Fertilising

During the growing season, keep fertilising your olive trees. It is preferable to start fertilising an olive tree with adequate care in March using a high-nitrogen fertiliser. 

Harvesting 

Olives have a longer growing season than most other fruits and vegetables, lasting from October through February. Olives should be hand-harvested to avoid bruising because they are delicate when ripe. 

Olive tree: Choosing a strong and healthy plant

Before buying an olive tree, keep the following guidelines in mind. 

• When purchasing an olive tree, look for a plant with a uniform canopy of healthy-appearing leaves. 
• Silver-green foliage on a healthy olive tree will not feel crunchy or dry to the touch. 
• The leaves will not come off if you gently pull or shake a branch. 
• Examine the olive tree’s soil as well; if there is any evidence of weeds or pests populating the area, pick a different plant.

Olive tree: Uses

• Olive leaves and the extract is used to treat infections, inflammation, diabetes, and hypertension. 
• Oleuropein, a key ingredient found in olive leaves, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Eczema appears to improve when a mixture of honey, beeswax, and olive oil is used in addition to conventional treatment.
• According to research, women who eat more olive oil in their diet are less likely to get ovarian cancer.
• You can receive the antioxidants your body needs to get rid of free radicals by eating olive tree leaves.

 

Olive tree: Is this plant toxic?

Olive trees are a fantastic choice to grow in homes with children, cats, dogs, and other animals, as they are non-toxic to both humans and pets.

Studies on toxicity actually support the idea that olive leaves are generally harmless in moderation. But when ingested in high amounts, as with any substance, there is always a chance for negative effects.

FAQs

Why do olive tree leaves turn yellow?

The leaves of an olive tree turn yellow when it is either not appropriately watered or not receiving proper nutrients or sunlight.

How many days does it take an olive tree to grow?

The average olive tree needs three years to reach maturity and bear appreciable fruit.

What does an olive tree symbolise?

Since ancient Grecian times, the olive tree has served as a symbol of peace and brotherhood.