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olive tree

paulinexnbldpaulinexnbld Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hi would some kind knowledgeable person out there be able to tell me if it's usual  for an olive tree to lose it's leaves at this time of year
Thanks in advance

Posts

  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Not really, no. They're evergreen.
    Are they in pots? Whereabouts do you live?
    Here in London, they're doing well.

  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    Olive will naturally drop older leaves over the growing parts of the year, to rejuvenate.
    If leaf drop is very pronounced though, maybe it is diseased.
    When mine have gotten rust, they dropped many more than usual.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    Mine (potted) lost all of its leaves when it dried out during the drought but as soon as I realised I put the whole pot in a bucket of water for a few hours and it is now growing healthy new leaves, fortunately.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • paulinexnbldpaulinexnbld Posts: 7
    Thanks for all comments guys.  The tree in question stands 2mtrs tall and is in a pot 62cm tall by 142cm at widest point. It was doing really well even in the dry hot spell till about three weeks ago. don't know how old it is as only had it for three years.  would it do better in the ground. 
    would appreciate any comments.
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    paulinexnbld said:
    Thanks for all comments guys.  The tree in question stands 2mtrs tall and is in a pot 62cm tall by 142cm at widest point. It was doing really well even in the dry hot spell till about three weeks ago. don't know how old it is as only had it for three years.  would it do better in the ground. 
    would appreciate any comments.
    Olives quite like being in pots and grow naturally in very sandy, poor soil too.
    I'd say that they prefer very free draining soil and don't like being waterlogged.

    If yours has dropped all its leaves and it isn't drought related, then consider taking it out of its pot to check for vine weevil damage. The larvae can destroy pot plants by devouring their roots and killing them.
  • ZeroZero1ZeroZero1 Posts: 577
    Just a quick question: Can you eat UK Olives?
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 1,017
    ZeroZero1 said:
    Just a quick question: Can you eat UK Olives?
    I've never tried! 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Fresh olives need curing for some time, either in brine or lye to make them edible. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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