How to produce fruiting Olive trees? - The Norfolk Olive Tree Company (2024)

FAQs

How do I get my olive tree to produce fruit? ›

Most Olive Trees won't come into maturity for about three years. If your Olive Tree isn't fruiting, it might just need some more time! Your Olive Tree needs enough water to stay moist, but shouldn't constantly be soaking. Water your Olive Tree when 25% of the soil volume has dried.

Olive trees need just the right conditions in order to produce fruit. If the tree isn't getting enough sun or is getting too much (or not enough) water, it's unlikely to fruit. Problem number one can be fixed simply by moving your tree to a better location, allowing it to soak up the sun's rays more easily.

POLLINATION. Many olive trees are self-fertile and require no pollinator, however some varieties are not. While many olives are self-fertile, generally a pollination partner will increase the size and quality of the harvest.

Olives begin bearing fruit in the tree's fifth year and have full fruit production in seven to eight years after planting. After that they do produce fruit every year. There are varieties among olive trees that are more susceptible to alternate bearing .. one year they have fruits , next year none.

With proper care, your potted olive tree can thrive and even produce olives for you to enjoy.

Young olive trees may require fertilizing after planting, depending on the time of the year (see below). Established olive trees require fertilizer to stay healthy and produce every year. They need a balanced fertilizer with a 16-16-16 nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium ratio or similar.

Grow your aloe in a bright spot. Aloes are killed by overwatering, so water sparingly. Water only when the top few centimetres of compost have dried out, allowing any excess to drain away fully, and don't water at all in winter.

Using your sharp, sterilized pruning shears, cut shoots less than ¾-inch and branches 1 to 3-inch in diameter. To address crowdedness, aim to remove any inward-or downward-growing branches. This will facilitate better light penetration and and improve air circulation.

Use a loam-based peat-free compost such as John Innes No. 3, and add a few handfuls of horticultural grit to aid drainage. You'll still need to water and feed your olive tree regularly through the warmer months, as the roots don't have as much space to search for water and nutrients.

Because of their geometry, olive flowers self-pollinate. The anthers (located at the top of the filaments attached to the stamen) drop pollen on the stigma of the pistil. The pollen grains germinate and olive growth is underway.

What is the best potting mix for olive trees? ›

Using a loam based compost such as John Innes No 3 is best and the addition of about 20% grit will help a lot with drainage. This will also keep the pot more stable than using peat based compost which is less dense. When potting up, the roots can be gently teased free of soil to help them establish.

Growing Olive Trees

Many varieties of olive trees require cross-pollination; that is, you need at least two different varieties to reliably get olive tree fruit. Perfect Plants offers the Arbequina olive variety (Olea europaea) which is self-fertile and a semi evergreen tree.

Their irresistible buttery flavor and meaty texture really make them stand out in the olive crowd. But not all Castelvetrano are created equal. In fact, many of the Castelvetrano you come across in grocery store olive bars, on restaurant cheese boards, and in fancy martinis, are imposters.

It's estimated that the average lifespan of an olive tree is approximately 500 years.

By hand with a net, with the help of plastic rakes (pettini) and sometimes long wooden sticks, is probably the most common method. Electric-powered tools for harvesting olives do exist, but the branches and olives can suffer.