The olive trees above all evoke vast fields in the Mediterranean area and a scorching sun that helps to ripen their fruits. Regardless, know that olive trees can grow in almost any mild climate, as long as the winter temperatures do not drop below freezing. With a little patience and some loving care, you will be able to grow an olive tree yourself at home.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Collect the Core
Step 1. Determine the type of tree you want to grow
There are literally hundreds of varieties of olive trees around the world. Some are similar to each other, with only a few differences in the color and flavor of the olives. Others, on the other hand, are very different and require cultivation techniques that affect the ripening times.
- For example, the four main cultivars of Puglia are: Cima di Bitonto, Bella di Cerignola, Carolea, Cellina Barese. Although they are in the same region, sometimes even minimal variation in climate, combined with the particular strain of the plant, leads to different results.
- Do some careful research on your territory to understand which type of olive tree is best suited to the area where you live.
Step 2. Retrieve the olives
This may seem like a simple step, but the fruit needs to be picked straight from the tree so it stays alive. Olive trees thrive in temperate and warm regions. These are geographic areas with a subtropical climate and mild winters. Harvest the fruit in early fall once they have reached maturity and turned green. Don't take the ones that are still black. Do not even pick up those that have fallen to the ground and make sure they do not have holes due to attack by insects.
- Do not take the olives you find in supermarkets, because you would get nothing. These have been industrially processed for food consumption, ie they have been treated with chemicals; this process kills the seed inside the kernel, therefore they are unable to germinate. This applies to both canned olives and the fresh ones you find in the fruit and vegetable department.
- If you have no way of getting olives from the tree, many large nurseries can ship the seeds / kernels directly to your home.
Step 3. Put the olives in a bucket
Once you have recovered the ones you want for your crop, gently break the pulp with a hammer to detach it from the core. Then cover the crushed olives with hot water and leave them to soak overnight. Stir the water every few hours. By moving the olives in this way, you further encourage the detachment of the pulp.
- If you don't have a hammer, use a wide-bladed knife and smash it with the flat side.
- If you notice that any olives are floating on the surface of the water, pick them up and throw them away, as they are probably rotten.
Step 4. Drain the water
Collect the stones and use a scouring pad to scrub and remove the peel left on the surface. This is the same type of scourer you use to clean pots and pans. After scraping off the peel, rinse the pit thoroughly in hot water for several minutes.
If you don't have a scourer, try sandpaper
Step 5. Cut the ends of the kernels
Each core has a blunt end and the other pointed. With a knife, score the blunt part. Do not break the shell completely, otherwise the seed will be unusable. Instead, create a thin hole about the size of a pen tip.
Then immerse the stones for 24 hours in water at room temperature
Part 2 of 3: Sow the Olive Kernels
Step 1. Fill a small pot with soil
Use a 10 cm container for each seed and fill it with well-draining potting soil, which should consist of one part of coarse sand and one part of seed soil. You can find both products at any garden store. Add some water to the soil mix to make it moist, but not muddy.
- If you prefer, you can use a larger pot. The seeds will be transplanted when they are sprouted and ripe.
- Mix the soil thoroughly with a spoon, a stick or directly with your hands.
Step 2. Plant the seeds
Gently press each individual seed to the surface of the soil, but don't bury it completely. You only need to cover it 3/4 of the way, because it must have access to sunlight to stimulate germination. Repeat the same procedure for the other seeds.
The ideal is to plant a seed for each pot; in this way they will not compete with each other for nutrients
Step 3. Cover the jars with bags
Put them inside clean plastic bags; by doing so, the seeds retain moisture and create an environment similar to that of greenhouses. Keep the pots in a well-lit and warm area. It is best to place them on the windowsill, but remember that direct sunlight may be harmful at first.
- Instead of the plastic bag, you can put the pots in a propagator if you have one available.
- The germination phase occurs within a month.
Step 4. Water the seeds
The first 5 cm layer of soil must maintain constant humidity; you can check it by putting a finger in the soil every now and then. Wet the soil only if it is dry in the first 6 mm. If you overdo it with water, you can cause bacterial or fungal growth that could destroy the seedlings.
Step 5. Remove the pots from the bags once the seedlings have sprouted
You can choose to still keep the containers on the windowsill or in another warm area of your choice, until the time comes to transplant the sprouts. In the meantime, continue watering normally.
Part 3 of 3: Moving the Seedlings Outside
Step 1. Transplant the young olive trees in the fall
The ideal period in almost all regions is between the end of August and the whole month of September. In this way, the seedlings are able to stabilize in the ground before the arrival of the frosts. Wait until they have reached a height of 45 cm before proceeding with this operation.
Since frost damage is one of the biggest problems for these plants, wait until spring if temperatures drop below freezing
Step 2. Dig a hole
Choose a spot in the garden that is very exposed to the sun to encourage further growth. The hole should only be a few centimeters deep. A good rule of thumb is to dig a chamber as deep as the pot or container you started germinating in.
- You can use a small shovel or even your hands to create the hole.
- The advantage of olive trees lies in the fact that they tolerate most types of soil well, including rocky and sandy ones. The only prerequisite is good drainage, otherwise the plants will slowly die from excessive moisture. Soils that hold a lot of water cause root diseases, such as wilt from Verticillium or rot from Phytophthora. The area surrounding the plant must never be muddy, but only slightly damp.
Step 3. Plant the sapling
Gently remove it from the pot with great care, so as not to disturb the roots excessively. Make sure the tree and the potting soil have been watered before proceeding. Insert the roots into the hole, check that the stem of the seedling is slightly higher than the ground and finally cover the roots with 2-3 cm of garden soil.
- Do not use large quantities of commercial organic mixes, compost or fertilizers, otherwise you create an artificial growing environment.
- If you are transplanting more than one sapling, remember that you need to space them at least 90 cm from each other; otherwise, they will compete for nutrients in the soil.
Step 4. Water as usual
When it comes to water, you must always follow the same rules: check the surrounding soil for humidity and irrigate when the first 5-6 mm layer is dry. Be very careful not to overdo it; the rest will be taken care of by Mother Nature and the plant will flourish.
Olive trees are quite robust, so they typically don't require special care or watering during the cold months. However, if the climate in your region is particularly dry, irrigate as usual to ensure the humidity of the upper soil layer
Step 5. Expect to harvest the olives within three years
Remember that there are hundreds of varieties of olive trees, so it is difficult to predict when your tree will begin to bear fruit. Some cultivars, such as Arbequina and Koroneiki, bear fruit when they are 3 years of age. Many others, however, have to mature up to 5-12 years.
Step 6. Prune the tree
Olive trees grow very slowly, so they don't need intense pruning work, however you can remove dead, diseased or dying branches. You can also prune it to allow sunlight to reach the center of the tree. Only prune from time to time and when absolutely necessary.
