Olive trees are easy to grow in the UK but encouraging them to fruit is a different matter. Find out more, in our Grow guide. The olive tree, Olea europaea, is a classic Mediterranean tree that we might associate more with holidays than our own back garden.
Do olives grow well in the UK?
The UK climate is surprisingly well suited to Growing Olives. Despite being a Mediterranean plant, an olive tree needs at least two months cold weather to produce flower and fruit. Temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, along with a fluctuation in night and daytime temperatures initiates the fruiting process.
Can Olive trees survive UK winter?
IN WINTER. Olive trees are hardy but may require some winter protection for the first few years. In heavy snow or particularly severe winter weather even established trees may be damaged but are easily protected with a wrap of hessian or fleece.
Where are olives grown in the UK?
In one of the most remarkable signs yet of the advance of global warming, Britain’s first olive grove has been planted in Devon.
How hardy are Olive trees in UK?
Some advice on growing Olive Trees in the UK
Olives are hardy and frost resistant to -15C without the need to fleece. Olive trees need at least three months a year of cold weather to flower and fruit. They are wind resistant and drought hardy, a winning combination that means Olive trees are truly easy to grow.
Can you eat olives straight from the tree UK?
Olives are the only fruit that can’t be consumed directly from the tree because is too bitter to be eaten raw, so they must be processed before they get to your table.
Can you grow olive trees in pots UK?
Growing Olive Trees in Containers is a great way to keep olive trees! Even the smallest garden or balcony can accommodate a pot grown olive tree. The ability to place your plant in the best possible location regardless of soil conditions is perhaps the greatest advantage of pot growing.
Can you eat olives straight from the tree?
1. Olives are inedible before they are cured. Many people don’t know that olives are actually inedible when they are first picked. Raw olives straight from the tree contain oleuropein, an extremely bitter compound that makes olives completely unpalatable.
Can I leave my potted olive tree outside in winter?
Potted olive trees can be left outside until late September, early October, and should then be brought inside until the beginning of May.
How cold is too cold for an olive tree?
Olive trees require a Mediterranean-like climate to survive. They need a long, hot summer and a cool, not frigid, winter. A mature tree can survive temperatures down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit for a limited amount of time; sustained cold below 15 degrees can be fatal.
Can I buy an olive tree in the UK?
Buy Online or In-Store
We are currently one of the largest stockholders and suppliers of olive, palm and topiary trees in the UK. With over 3,000 premium quality trees available including palm trees, fruit trees and more beautiful species. We’re certain you’ll find the perfect choice for your garden.
Do you need 2 olive trees to produce fruit?
Do you need two olive trees to get crops? Arbequina olive trees are self-pollinating, so you only need one to get fruit. However, planting another olive tree will increase your harvest.
How long does it take for an olive tree to bear fruit?
three years
You should begin to see fruit on your olive tree after three years. In terms of production, don’t be surprised if your tree seems to take every other year off. Olives are described as alternate-year-bearing species and typically have a year of heavy fruit production followed by a year of lighter production.
Do olive trees come back every year?
Do Olive trees lose their leaves in winter? No, olive trees are evergreen and they do not lose their leaves in winter. However, all evergreen trees constantly renew their leaves, meaning they gradually drop all of their leaves and produce new ones throughout a period of 6-14 months.
Can I grow an olive tree indoors UK?
Known for gracing the balmy landscapes of the Mediterranean, these ancient plants are particularly tolerant of dry air (and to an extent – soil) meaning they thrive indoors as well as outside when the warmer weather arrives, making it an adaptable houseplant and bringing a touch of sunnier climes into our daily lives.
Can potted olive trees survive winter?
Overwintering potted olive trees
And it will all be over if the soil in the pot freezes through. Olive trees need the right protection to survive the winter. Just wrap the pot with newspaper or bubble wrap and move it to a sheltered, frost-free but well-lit winter home.
What do you do with olives once you pick them?
Olives need to be pickled following their harvest. Pick the olives when they nearly ripe, when they have begun to change colour from green to pinkish purple but are not fully black.
Do birds eat olives off the tree?
Birds, especially blackbirds, devour them, although the experts claim there is no proof that multiple bird species depend on the fruit. Some animals clearly make use of the trees – including, particularly, raccoons, which eat the olives.
What do you do with olives once picked?
The easiest and quickest way to cure olives at home is with water. In this method, the freshly picked olives are sliced or cracked to expose the interior of the fruit, and then immersed in water, which is changed once a day for five to eight days and then soaked in finishing brine with salt and vinegar.
How quickly do olive trees grow in UK?
Olive Trees can generally grow fruit after 3 – 5 years old. They need about 2 months in cold conditions to trigger the flowering process. But remember, they need to be kept in as much sunlight as possible to have a chance at fruiting.
How do I grow an olive tree in my garden UK?
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.