Characteristics
- Scientific name: Olea europaea
- Family: Oleaceae
- Synonyms: olive tree, real olive tree, olive
- Origin: Mediterranean
- Growth type: tree or shrub
- Growth: gnarled
- Growth height: 5 m to 20 m
- Leaf: silvery, lanceolate, evergreen
- Flower: paniculate inflorescence
- Fruit: drupe
- Fruit property: edible
- Hardiness: conditionally hardy
origin
That is the olive tree formative Element of Mediterranean cultural landscapes. Already four millennia before the beginning of our era, the striking olive tree was a faithful companion of man and was cultivated as a useful plant. The Old Testament tells of a dove with an olive branch in its beak proclaiming the end of the flood on Noah's ark. The native olive tree extends over the entire Mediterranean area, including the Canary Islands. To this day, the olive tree is revered as an ambassador of southern calm.
also read
- Olive tree tolerates hot but not frosty temperatures
- Caring for an olive tree in a pot properly
- From the Mediterranean to Germany - How to successfully plant an olive tree
Extensive olive groves are characteristic of the main growing areas in Spain, Greece, Italy and other regions with a Mediterranean climate. Subspecies and cultivars are also grown in North and South America, Australia, South Africa and Japan.
growth
The real olive tree is reverentially called the gray giant. In its home regions, the archaic tree can achieve impressive dimensions. North of the Alps, the olive tree is mainly cultivated as a container plant and is rightly called an olive tree. The most important key figures for growth in a nutshell:
- Growth height in the Mediterranean region: 10m to 20m
- Growth height planted out in Central Europe: 3 m to 5 m, rarely higher
- Growth height as a container plant: 0.80 m to 1.50 m, rarely up to 2 m
- Olive Tree Trunk: initially grey-green, smooth bark, later gnarled-cracked bark
- Crown: sprawling, sparse branching with lanceolate, evergreen leaves, dark green on top, silvery underneath
- Annual increase: 10 cm to 30 cm, as a container plant 5 cm to 10 cm
- root: in loose soil vertically to a depth of 7 m, on stony-rocky soil as a flat network on the trunk
If you want an authentic tree with the unmistakable, gnarled, bizarre trunk, you should plant an old olive tree in XXL format. The following video explains how the ambitious project succeeds:
Planting an XXL olive tree in the garden - is that possible?
blossom
An olive tree flowers for the first time at the age of six. These are the most important characteristics of an olive blossom:
- flower shape: 2 cm to 4 cm long panicle with 10 to 40 individual flowers
- single flower: 4 sepals (1-1.5 mm long) and 4 petals (2.5-4 mm long)
- flower color: yellowish-white
- heyday: May to July
- pollination: wind
A real olive tree depends on cross-pollination. Grafted varieties are self-pollinating. A second olive tree as a pollen donor always increases the harvest yield.
fruit
The pollinated flowers turn into single-seeded, spherical drupes. An olive is 0.7 cm to 4 cm long with a diameter of 1 cm to 2 cm. Unripe fruits are green. During the ripening period, the olives turn dark brown to black. Raw, the fruits are very bitter and inedible. Pickled, marinated or boiled, the fruits become a healthy, aromatic delicacy with a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. Freshly harvested olives and virgin olive oil have these valuable ingredients in their luggage:
| nutritional values | 100 g fresh olives | 100 grams of olive oil |
|---|---|---|
| calories | 143 calories | 884 calories |
| protein | 1.4g | 0g |
| fiber | 2.4g | 0g |
| Fat | 14g | 100 g |
| of that | ||
| 71.24 g of monounsaturated fatty acids | ||
| 9.17 g of polyunsaturated fatty acids | ||
| 14.38 g saturated fat |
Regular consumption of olives and olive oil promotes well-being and health. As part of the diet, olives reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, stabilize blood sugar levels, ensure strong bones and prevent obesity. Processed into ointments, olive oil cares for sensitive and dry skin.
hardiness
The olive tree is hardy down to -10° Celsius. In principle, the olive is not suitable for overwintering as a planted house tree. In regions with mild winters in hardiness zones 8, 9 and 10, the gnarled icon of the Mediterranean can overwinter outdoors, provided extensive protective measures are taken. The subsequent care instructions explain the correct procedure.
plant olive tree
Olea europaea is available in many sizes and price ranges. From the inexpensive mini olive trunk for the balcony box to the representative 150 cm half-trunk olive to the aged tree giant with a growth height of 3 meters for a whopping 2,500 euros extends the range of Offers. Hobby gardeners prefer to plant an olive tree from their own propagation.
propagation
The olive tree is best propagated by cuttings. To cut She half woody, 10 centimeters long shoot tips. Pluck off the leaves in the lower half. Dip the shaft in rooting powder and stick two-thirds of each offshoot into a pot with coconut fiber substrate or potting soil. At the bright, warm window seat with 20° Celsius keep the substrate slightly moist.
Location
Reserve two locations for the olive tree in the pot: a summer place outside and winter quarters inside. Hardy olive tree varieties in the garden have special location preferences. Important key data at a glance:
- Tub location in summer: full sun, warm to southern hot, preferably in front of a southern wall.
- Tub location in winter: very bright, cool-tempered at 5° Celsius, similar to citrus plants.
- location in the garden: Sunny, wind-protected location from winter hardiness zone Z8 (- 6.7° to 12.2°C.) or higher.
Earth
An olive tree prefers to stretch out its roots in this earth:
- bucket soil: Mixture of 4 parts potting soil without peat, 2 parts coconut soil, 1 part sand, 1 part lava granules.
- garden soilType of soil: loose humus, sandy-loamy, fresh to moderately dry, well-drained, calcareous, pH 6-7.
plants in the pot
Plant an olive tree in a pot over a 3 cm to 5 cm drain expanded clay or potsherds. Measure the planting depth so that a watering edge is created. A stable terracotta pot is suitable as a bucket because excess liquid evaporates better through the porous walls.
plants in the bed
Olive trees that are suitable for planting out are at least 7 years old and come from local tree nurseries. The best planting time is in the spring, so that the roots can build up solidly until the first frost. Cover the bottom of the planting pit with a thick layer of sand as drainage against waterlogging. A support pole protects the olive tree in the garden from windthrow. Please use soft hose ties, which you check regularly and remove in good time so that the bark, which is worth seeing, can form undamaged.
digression
Gnarled Methuselah from the Mediterranean
cultivate olive tree
An olive tree is undemanding and easy to care for. The four pillars in the simple care program are economical watering, moderate watering Fertilize, rare cutting and species-appropriate overwintering. Read the best care tips for pots and gardens here:
Olive tree care in the pot
- Pour: water thoroughly when dry, allow the substrate to dry to a depth of 2 cm before the next watering.
- Fertilize: add liquid fertilizer for Mediterranean plants to the irrigation water monthly from April to September.
- repot: repot every 2 to 3 years in spring.
- hibernate: allow before the first frost, water very sparingly in bright, cool winter quarters and do not fertilize.
- To cut: occasionally thin out before wintering and keep in shape to cut
Olive tree care in the garden
- Pour: water regularly after planting, only water well-rooted olives during summer drought without rain.
- Fertilize: in March and June fertilize with compost and horn shavings.(€9.00 at Amazon*)
- hibernate: tree discmulch, wrap the trunk and crown with fleece, water when there is a dead frost, no longer fertilize from September.
- To cut: fruitwood and thinning cut in February, corrective care cut at the end of June.
Popular Varieties
Among more than 1000 olive tree varieties from the Mediterranean region, these varieties have qualified for life north of the Alps:
- Hojiblanca: Premium variety with silvery leaves, characterizes the olive groves of Andalusia, edible table olives with a mild aroma, hardy to -19° Celsius.
- Tuscany: representative olive tree as a half trunk with a beautiful spherical crown, trunk height 60 cm, not hardy.
- Francoio: well-known type of fruit, dark brown, edible fruit (do not eat raw), tolerates temperatures down to -15° Celsius for short periods.
- Leccino: cold-tolerant variety from northern Italy with small, dark red to black olives from the end of October.
- Cipresso: decorative fruit olive, grafted with stems, 160-200 cm tall, perfect pollinator for Leccino.
- Arbequina: Catalan premium variety bears hazelnut-sized olives with a fruity, tart taste, tolerates frost down to -16° Celsius.
FAQ
Where do olives grow?
Olives are the fruit of the olive tree (Olea europaea), also known as the olive tree. The real olive tree grows mainly in the Mediterranean region, where it has been cultivated as the most important crop for many thousands of years. The main growing areas are Spain, Greece, Italy, Morocco and Albania.
How old do olive trees get?
Olive trees are very robust and can live for thousands of years. Part of their survival strategy are roots up to 7 meters long, which give the rustic tree stability and transport vital groundwater to the crown. The olive tree is extremely hardy and will sprout again even after a devastating drought or a catastrophic fire.
Is the olive tree hardy?
No, an olive tree cannot serve with a solid winter hardiness. After all, the Mediterranean tree tolerates temperatures of up to -10° Celsius for a short time. This allows older olive trees to be planted in river valleys and wine regions with mild winters, provided good winter protection is provided. In all other areas of Germany, the olive tree is best kept in a mobile tub for a frost-free winter indoors.
