Your Own Olive Tree – Care & Harvest

Growing and harvesting from your own olive tree is a rewarding experience. With proper care, even a potted olive tree can produce fruit. This guide provides essential tips for fertilization, overwintering, and harvesting.

Fertilizing and General Care

For a healthy tree and larger fruits, your olive tree requires plenty of water and a suitable fertilizer.

• Fertilizer: Use a special citrus fertilizer or a slow-release fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Watering: Water the tree only when the top 5 cm (about 2 inches) of the soil is dry. You can check this by inserting your finger into the soil.
• Pruning: In March, prune the tree by about one-third to maintain its shape and encourage new growth.

Pollination for Fruit Production

Olive trees are self-pollinating but rely on wind to transfer pollen from flower to flower. If your tree blossoms but doesn’t produce fruit, it may be due to a lack of wind.

• Outdoor Trees: Place your potted tree outdoors during its flowering period to allow the wind to naturally pollinate the blossoms.
• Indoor Trees: If the tree is indoors, use a fan to simulate a breeze near the tree. You can also gently shake or stroke the branches to help distribute the pollen.

Overwintering Your Olive Tree

To protect your olive tree during the colder months, it’s crucial to bring it indoors to a frost-free location that still receives some light.

• Location: Choose a protected area, such as a garage or cool room. Avoid placing it in direct, intense sun, as the low humidity can encourage pests like mealybugs.
• Watering: Olive trees still require a surprising amount of water in winter, especially if they are bearing fruit. Water them approximately once a week, depending on the pot size and conditions.

Harvesting Olives

The harvest time for olives can vary depending on the variety and local climate, but it typically falls between November and February.

• Signs of Ripeness: You can tell an olive is ready for harvest when its pit is well-developed and the flesh begins to turn a purplish color.

Post-Harvest Preparation

Once harvested, the olives need to be prepared for curing or preserving.

1. Sort: Carefully inspect the olives and remove any that are dried out or unripe.
2. Clean: Remove all stems and leaves from the good olives. The discarded leaves can be dried and used for tea.
3. Wash: Rinse the olives thoroughly with water and let them drain completely in a colander.