European olive , also known asolive tree , is a willingly cultivated plant that produces valuable fruits - olives. In our climate, it can only be grown as a houseplant. It tolerates apartment conditions well, and is also often used for bonsai. See whatgrowing olives in a pot looks likeand what this plant needs for he althy growth.
European olive, olive tree
Olive, olive tree - description
Oliveis a Mediterranean frost-sensitive evergreen tree or shrub with a dense habit with an erect crown and attractive silvery foliage.The olive branches are covered with narrow, gray-green leaves, 2.5 to 8 cm long. The leaves are placed on long petioles and their underside is covered with white or rusty hairs. In summer, yellow-white flowers gathered in clusters appear at the ends of the shoots. Over time, the flowers are replaced by oval red fruits, up to 4 cm in length. The fruits ripen in the fall. When ripe, they turn purple. Under natural conditions in the Mediterranean climate, this plant reaches a height of 6 m. However,an olive tree grown in a potin an apartment will not exceed 3 m in height.
Various types of olives are available for sale, but the most decorative is theEuropean Olive(Olea europaea), which was the most widespread utility tree in the ancient world. Today, theolive treehas become a popular houseplant as it tolerates well the low air humidity in heated apartments.Perfect for bonsai. It can also be grown in greenhouses and winter gardens, and in the summer it can be placed in the garden or on a terrace or balcony.
How to grow an olive tree in a pot
Site, ground
European oliverequires bright, sunny positions. It should be grown in fertile and well-drained soil. It may be a calcareous soil (for such olives grown in the wild) with a pH of 6-7. To improve the permeability of the substrate, it is good to mix it with coarse sand. It is also worth placing a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot. Every spring, we transplant young plants into larger pots. When the diameter of the pot reaches 45 cm, we only replace the top layer of the substrate every year.
Growing temperature
In summer, room temperature will be appropriate for the European olive. The plant will do well to expose it to the outside. In winter, the minimum temperaturein whicholives are growncannot fall below 4 ° C, although the olive tree tolerates short-term frosts down to -3 ° C (some sources say that even up to -5 ° C). For an olive to bear fruit, it must spend at least two months below 10 ° C.
Watering and fertilizing
The olive treeWe water it regularly, but moderately throughout the year. Fertilize in early spring and again in mid-summer with universal liquid fertilizer (you can also apply smaller doses of fertilizer throughout the growing season at two-week intervals).
European olive reproduction
Olives can be propagated by sowing seeds. Seeds are sown in the fall (some say the best time) or in spring (February or March) in a greenhouse after stratification.
Olives can also be propagated from cuttings. For this purpose, in summer (July or August), semi-woody cuttings with a heel, 5 to 10 cm long, are taken.
European olive - diseases and pests
European olive is rarely ill. Most of the problems ingrowing an olive in a potarise from improper care of the plant. Excessive drying of the substrate causes the fruit and leaves to fall, but after watering the plant usually regenerates quickly. Leaves can also be shed in winter if the plant is kept in a place that is too warm and too dark at the same time. The olive tree grown in closed rooms, especially in winter, when the air in heated apartments is too warm and dry, can be attacked by pests of potted plants belonging to June - bowls, scales and mealybugs. These pests are controlled by spraying Provado Plus AE twice, 14 days apart. It is also possible to apply soil preparation of the Shield BR or the Ultra Shield.See also:
