I have acquired an Olive tree ~ Olea europaea Arbequina ~ aka black olive. From research and with the assistance of a friend with knowledge of trees and horticulture, I decided to tackle this one.
I obviously have a weakness for olives both black and green and if successful will eventually need processing information but for now, I have a small, potted tree that will at least have beautiful foliage. I am not above keeping this one in a large pot which is also possible with the Arbequina.
I am fishing for anyone with experience to share what they might have learned.
pod ~ who is always willing to learn from others experience.
Olives does anyone in TEXAS grow?
I was told that most olive trees do not produce for at least seven years. Further, that if you want them, plant them for your grandchildren! What does your tag say?
There is an olive farm in Wimberley, TX. You could google them and ask them how they are doing. They sell olive trees as well. I put one out at my farm but it hasnt grown very much. I just ignore it.
I heard Steve George talk about them. In Texas their best chance is around the Austin area and even then the weather requirements are such that you can expect a good crop one out of five years. But they make pretty ornamentals.
Annette_M ~ I believe all gardeners plant for the future generations.
Here are the selling points on this plant.
You can tell by the description, my arm was twisted! LOL
Quoting:
Olea europaea ‘Arbequina’ “Black Olive”
This self-fertile olive from northern Spain is used for both its oil and as a table olive. Olives are easy-to-grow, rugged plants that tolerate dryness both in soil moisture and humidity and a wide variation in temperature from just below freezing to the triple digits. To successfully flower plants, they need lots of sun and a period of 30-45°F at night on a consistent basis during the winter. ‘Arbequina’ is a great olive for pots as it flowers at an early age, often when no more than a foot in height, and produces an abundance of small, dark tasty olives.
Hardy to Zone 8 and higher for outdoors.
Full sun, grows to 2-5' in container, minimum temperature indoors 35°, blooms in spring.
Light: Full sun, a southern exposure.
Temperature: Maintain indoor temperatures above 35°.
Humidity: They will tolerate wide swings in humidity with no harm.
Watering: Bring soil to a state of visual dryness between watering. When watering, thoroughly saturate soil until a little water runs out of the bottom of the pot. Growing in a clay pot will help maintain a healthy root system.
Fertilizer: They are moderate feeders, especially when grown under high light. Fertilize with ¼ tsp of fertilizer per gallon of water once a week when they are in active growth. Use a balanced fertilizer like a 15-15-15 or a blooming fertilizer like a 7-9-5. Stop feeding during the winter or when active growth has stopped.
Pruning: Prune or pinch young plants to create a multiple branched specimen if a bush form is desired. They can also be trained into a tree form or standard. Prune any time height or form is unacceptable. They break easily from even hard cuts. Note on young plants: frequent pruning will slow down flowering.
Insects and Disease: Olea have few problems with insects or disease.
Comments: An easy plant to grow that is tolerant of erratic watering and low humidity. High light is important if fruiting is desired. They also make excellent bonsai.
Jujubetexas ~ thank you for the mention of the olive farm in Wimberly, I will check them out.
Do you know what cultivar you planted? How long ago did you plant it?
Siggy ~ you are in the same zone as I am although I think living in the woods here provides a microclimate in winter so our temps aren't as cold or long lasting.
I do agree, at the very least, it will be a pretty ornamental.
Thx all ~ pod
I dont know what they grow or sell out there. It was bigger but my dog chewed it off to the ground and I then replanted it and it is growing again.
Aha! I have one of those gardening tools! Grrrr... http://davesgarden.com/community/journals/viewentry/111500/
From what I read the pruning might not be bad for your olive.
Plant one and see. One of the things I love about gardening is when I have a plant that is successful despite its reputed limits. Interesting gardens have unusual plants.
I am "testdriving" one. I intend to keep it potted thru winter and offer winter protection, then in spring, find a suitable location for it and plant it in ground.
I was just wondering if anyone here had any experience with olive trees. I have found some good information and appreciate all the assistance. pod
I understand "testdriving".......
I just bought an avocado tree that is supposed to be hardy to zone 8b. We'll see! If it doesn't grow , well, that's 45 smackeroos down the drain!
Here are some links on growing olives in Texas.
http://www.texasoliveoilcouncil.org/
Map of where in Texas they will grow if you want olives
http://www.texasoliveoilcouncil.org/info/info_thermal_adaptability_olive_pg1.htm
http://www.olives101.com/2008/03/12/texas-olive-industry-branches-out-to-meet-growing-demand/
http://www.gotexan.org/vgn/tda/.../16642_olive_manual%20090707.pdf
Hey Annette,
What variety of avocado did you get? I have two Opals about to go into their first winter. They are supposed to be able to take 14 degrees. Make sure you protect it the first two winters with cloth when it gets in the 20's and mulch over the graft at the base because the rootstock is not as hardy.
My Mexicola wasnt ready and I didnt protect it last year and I lost it.
Another trick to find out if it has a chance, break off one of the leaves and crumple it in your hand. Do you smell a strong licorice smell? If it is strong, then you have a hardy variety.
Mine is Brazos Belle, which is supposed to be the same as Opal. I will try the leaf thing tomorrow. That is something I hadn't heard. Lila is also the same. Won't mulching over the graft cause it to root above it? That's something I don't want to happen.
Ohhhh ~ ouch! I'm way too cheap for that. As a result, this immature olive tree probably won't produce for 14 years! 8 /
Good luck with your avocado tree. Sounds like you have found an avocado mentor there in Jujubetexas...
Bettydee ~ thanks much for those links. I have been to a couple and will research the others. Once again, I appreciate your knowledge. I hadn't seen you posting lately. I hope all is well with you and yours. Tough summer on the ranch I would suspect and hopefully it is behind you.
Annette
You dont need to mulch over the graft all the time. Just do it when cold weather threatens since the rootstock is probably only hardy to 26 degrees or something like that. I tried using foam insulation for plumbing pipes on some citrus and it worked nicely as well. It actually seems like it was designed for it.
Podster,
I noticed that some of the people down the block planted olive trees to screen their yard last year. They did fine thru the winter. They are further up the hill so I think they have the rocky soil instead of the clay everyone has at the bottom of the hill.
Hi Podster,
I was kept rather busy this summer. With DH working out of town, I was left in charge of the ranch. If I wasn't feeding the cows, I was watering my plants. Thank heavens for a little rain. I'll be able to relax a bit for a few weeks, but once the night time temperatures go below 45º, I'll have to start feeding the cows again. The Bermuda will go dormant, but the winter grass won't be ready to graze until later. That is if we get enough rain for the seed to germinate and the grass to grow. We have had gigantic bird feeders the last 2 winter.
I took time to browse through some of the threads every once in a while, but that was it. I hope all is well with you, too.
This was a tough summer to have livestock and to have to feed both summer and winter. I can't imagine how that would cut into the cattle business.
I actually am surprised more folks in TX are growing an olive tree (other than ornamental). As with vineyards, I figured there would be more olive groves particularily in the hill country area but I guess not.
We lost a lot of money this year, but I was reluctant to get rid of them because many were carrying embryos plus it has taken me years to improve the herd. If it happens again, I think we need to get out of the cattle business, but my DH really doesn't want to sell the land.
I was surprised there was an olive industry at all. A few years ago, I looked into diversifying a bit and looked for information on growing olive trees in Texas and couldn't find much. Trees are high maintenance though. Best done by the young. LOL
My sympathy on the livestock this past summer. I know I saw you post once or twice on some of the difficulties. With land one has to put it to some use but after growing up on farms, I agree with my husband when he says the only kind of cow he wants will fit on his plate. I guess any business has its' down sides.
On the olive orchards, I suspect a major drawback would be having the fruit processed for commercial use ~ either canned or oil.
The olive orchard in Wimberley does all their own processing and sells products on the tour. After the tour, you can buy the plants. They say their trees thrive on neglect.
There are also some vineyards back in that area and one with a restaurant and winery.
I have clay soil so I planted the Champanel wine grapes this year. I planted about 20 and lost 1. I rarely even watered them. The two I planted the year before produce like mad. Black spanish is supposed to be a clay loving grape as well.
Amazing on the survival rate of your grapes after this incredibly dry summer! Sounds likes you have hit on some excellent choices of grapes.
Actually, I think they were designed specifically for clay and then I found the recommendation on Aggie Hort site.