Olive tree

Olive tree Care

Olea europea (Oleaceae)

What is the plant

The Olive plant is a fruit-bearing plant from the Oleaceae family. Its homeland is the southeastern Mediterranean. Since ancient times, the plant has been cultivated for its fruits, from which people got oil. It does not grow in the wild.

Olea europaea is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Its height is 3-10 feet (1-3 meters). The trunk is covered with gray bark, gnarled, twisted, and usually hollow in old age. The branches are long and knotty. The leaves are leathery, gray-green, and silvery below. The tree does not drop its leaves for the winter and gradually renews them over 2-3 years. Depending on the climate, the plant blooms from the end of April to the beginning of July. The tree gives fruits of elongated oval shape. Their color varies depending on maturity, from green to dark purple and black. The pericarp contains oil.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

10°C - 15°C

Hardiness zone

8 - 10

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
When growing an Olive plant, you must moisten the soil evenly. In spring and summer, gardeners recommend watering the substrate regularly. In the winter period, reduce the amount of watering. Moisten as the substrate dries. Use soft, warm water for watering.
Pruning
You can trim an Olive tree for decorative purposes. To do this, use secateurs, forming with its help a sphere of an ideal shape. Remove weakened sprouts and too-long branches. The Olive plant tolerates pruning well.
Fertilizer
Fertilize twice a month in the spring. It is better to use nitrogen fertilizers. Apply mineral top dressing in the summer. Some growers spray Olive oil with succinic acid.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Olea europaea is a heat-loving plant. It can't stand the shadow. Plant the tree only in places that are accessible to the sun. If you grow a plant in a pot, place it on the sunniest windowsill.
Soil
The soil for the Olive plant should be fertile, preferably limestone. Acidity should be pH 6-7. You can prepare a soil mixture yourself from leaf, compost soil, and river sand in a ratio of 3:1:1.
Propagation
You can propagate the Olive plant in different ways. It is possible to grow a tree from a bone. You can also carry out cuttings. Cut off several thin branches from the tree and use them as planting material. It is also possible to propagate a tree by grafting.

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Temperature
Olea europaea is not afraid of cold, but prolonged frosts lead to its death. During the period of active vegetation, it is desirable to maintain a temperature regime between 64-68 degrees Fahrenheit (18-20 degrees Celsius). At the stage of flowering, frosts can negatively affect fertility.
Container
You should choose a pot that is suitable in size. Clay is the best material. It allows the root system to breathe. Each following pot should be 5-10 cm larger in diameter than the previous one. You can also plant a tree in open ground.
Fun fact
The average lifespan of an Olive plant is 500 years, and some trees reach the age of 1,500 years.