Hi. Just joined and looking through the olive tree section. I am up north in sunny dunfermline. I would not worry to much about the frost and cold weather as long as you wrap the pot and offer a little protection. My farther in- law is Italian and stays up in the hills in Tuscany surround by olive trees and believe me they also get very cold snowy winters. Because of my family ties and visits to Tuscany I have a real love for olive trees. I have 3 lovely trees in my garden here in dunfermline which do very well, the only issue is the lack of sun to produce a proper crop, my trees always sprout after getting some frost. My trees are potted as its very thick clay here placed in full sun (if we get any, lol) I have them placed right next to the house which helps protect against some of the wind and cold conditions up here. I have spot lights on mine and look stunning at night. If you like gardening and prepared to put the time in to care for them then I would recommend olive trees to anyone. I have added a couple of photos.
A beautiful display - you certainly know your olives!
Maybe you could advise what I should do with my rather neglected specimen. I've had it about 15 years and it's been in the same pot in the same (sheltered south-facing) part of the garden all that time. The root hasn't gone into the soil below as I do move it from time to time to clean the gutters etc. I water it once in a blue moon, and every year it flowers a little and sometimes I get little olives. What would you advise please re. pruning in particular?
Thanks
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Hi Pete. You have kept it going for a long time. Olive trees don't need much attention unless you want to try and get fruit from it.. I would consider RE-planting into a new pot, if you do, I would probably hold of until the end of next winter. don't move straight to a large container, plant into a pot that is no bigger than 50% of the pot it is currently in. I would prune back it has a good shape up to the top of the fence anything above I would cut back. Do this before August to ensure it has time to recover prior to winter. You do need the right conditions to get a proper crop from them. Olive trees don't require feeding and watering when planted but if growing in pots and you want to try and get some olives from it then once flowered I would water, the best way for this to ensure you don't over water is put your finger in the pot about and inch if it feels dry then give it some water also during the growing season I would give it a little liquid fertiliser once every 6 weeks they don't require a lot but again when planted in pots a little will do it no harm. Hope this info is of help.
Great - thanks very much wilso - every year I think I should do something about it, now I will. I won't put it in a bigger pot - I can barely move it now, and I have to occasionally. It's there just to have something in that corner that can stand the sun all day and look green, so I'm not bothered about olives. They are such beautiful trees - with the occasional exception, but I'm out there with my pruners in a few minutes. It's put up with so much - every summer there's a huge ant's nest in there and on the rare occasions I give it a water the ants are not pleased - I'll give it a drop of tomorite now and then too. Much appreciate your advice - thanks
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Mine has had a good prune to fence height, all crossing branched removed and all the dead bits trimmed off, a good soak then a feed of tomorite - it must think it's its birthday It already looks a lot more cared for.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Let us know how it gets on Pete. A little attention each year and you will see a big difference and it will thicken out nicely and turn into real focus point.
Good to hear your tree is still going strong redwing. They are one of the most stunning trees you can have in your garden and can make a real focal point in almost any size garden. A lot of people are put off buying them thinking they need a lot of work or we don't have the weather for them, when really with a little protection from hard frost they will do well. If I can keep mine going well here in Scotland then you should have no problems down south.
The ever handy Mr Redwing made me a anti frost box out of an old crate and I stuffed it with insulation. It kept the pot from freezing over the winter. Here are pictures.
Edit: Posting pictures did not work.
Last edited: 10 July 2017 16:57:08
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
Posts
Hi. Just joined and looking through the olive tree section. I am up north in sunny dunfermline. I would not worry to much about the frost and cold weather as long as you wrap the pot and offer a little protection. My farther in- law is Italian and stays up in the hills in Tuscany surround by olive trees and believe me they also get very cold snowy winters. Because of my family ties and visits to Tuscany I have a real love for olive trees. I have 3 lovely trees in my garden here in dunfermline which do very well, the only issue is the lack of sun to produce a proper crop, my trees always sprout after getting some frost. My trees are potted as its very thick clay here placed in full sun (if we get any, lol) I have them placed right next to the house which helps protect against some of the wind and cold conditions up here. I have spot lights on mine and look stunning at night. If you like gardening and prepared to put the time in to care for them then I would recommend olive trees to anyone. I have added a couple of photos.
A beautiful display - you certainly know your olives!
Maybe you could advise what I should do with my rather neglected specimen.
I've had it about 15 years and it's been in the same pot in the same (sheltered south-facing) part of the garden all that time. The root hasn't gone into the soil below as I do move it from time to time to clean the gutters etc.
I water it once in a blue moon, and every year it flowers a little and sometimes I get little olives.
What would you advise please re. pruning in particular?
Thanks
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Hi Pete. You have kept it going for a long time. Olive trees don't need much attention unless you want to try and get fruit from it.. I would consider RE-planting into a new pot, if you do, I would probably hold of until the end of next winter. don't move straight to a large container, plant into a pot that is no bigger than 50% of the pot it is currently in. I would prune back it has a good shape up to the top of the fence anything above I would cut back. Do this before August to ensure it has time to recover prior to winter. You do need the right conditions to get a proper crop from them. Olive trees don't require feeding and watering when planted but if growing in pots and you want to try and get some olives from it then once flowered I would water, the best way for this to ensure you don't over water is put your finger in the pot about and inch if it feels dry then give it some water also during the growing season I would give it a little liquid fertiliser once every 6 weeks they don't require a lot but again when planted in pots a little will do it no harm. Hope this info is of help.
Great - thanks very much wilso - every year I think I should do something about it, now I will.
I won't put it in a bigger pot - I can barely move it now, and I have to occasionally. It's there just to have something in that corner that can stand the sun all day and look green, so I'm not bothered about olives. They are such beautiful trees - with the occasional exception, but I'm out there with my pruners in a few minutes.
It's put up with so much - every summer there's a huge ant's nest in there and on the rare occasions I give it a water the ants are not pleased - I'll give it a drop of tomorite now and then too.
Much appreciate your advice - thanks
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Nice to see this thread being revived. Mine is doing well; it's even got dozens of tiny olives now.
Mine has had a good prune to fence height, all crossing branched removed and all the dead bits trimmed off, a good soak then a feed of tomorite - it must think it's its birthday
It already looks a lot more cared for.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Let us know how it gets on Pete. A little attention each year and you will see a big difference and it will thicken out nicely and turn into real focus point.
Good to hear your tree is still going strong redwing. They are one of the most stunning trees you can have in your garden and can make a real focal point in almost any size garden. A lot of people are put off buying them thinking they need a lot of work or we don't have the weather for them, when really with a little protection from hard frost they will do well. If I can keep mine going well here in Scotland then you should have no problems down south.
Last edited: 10 July 2017 00:16:41
The ever handy Mr Redwing made me a anti frost box out of an old crate and I stuffed it with insulation. It kept the pot from freezing over the winter. Here are pictures.
Edit: Posting pictures did not work.
Last edited: 10 July 2017 16:57:08
site problem re photos atm
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.