This article has been checked for horticultural accuracy by Oliver Parsons.
The olive tree, Olea europaea, is a classic Mediterranean tree that we might associate more with holidays than our own back garden. However, being slow-growing and usually only reaching a modest size, it makes a good garden tree in the UK. They can be grown in borders but make good trees for pots, too. There are now many cultivars that tolerate cooler temperatures to choose from, although a sunny, sheltered location will get the best results. You might even be lucky enough to get your own crop of olives – perhaps not enough for a bottle of olive oil, but certainly enough to cure and serve up as an appetiser.
How to grow olivesGrow olives in free-draining soil or compost in a sheltered, sunny site. There’s no need to feed olives growing in the ground but they may need protection from frost in winter.
Where to grow olive treesOlives are Mediterranean plants so thrive in conditions closest to the hot, dry climate of their native habitat. Choose the sunniest and most sheltered spot available – a south-facing spot with a brick wall behind it will work well.
How to plant olive treesIf you’re growing your olive tree in a border, dig a hole and add mycorrhizal fungi to help the tree establish quickly. If you have heavy soil then add plenty of grit to aid drainage. If growing in a container or raised bed, prepare a soil-based mix of compost and grit, with added some organic matter.
Most olive trees are supplied pot-grown, so they can be planted at any time of the year, unless the soil is frozen.
It’s possible to grow an olive tree from seed, but this is a long process and when grown, your plant will revert to a wild variety, rather than its parent
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