Olive trees are attractive plants. Planting olive trees in your yard or garden can bring many benefits to your life. Olive trees make your garden more beautiful and provide shade for family members. Olives can be eaten or pickled and you can try making olive oil.
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As fall approaches, learn tips for growing and caring for your olive trees in the fall and winter. We hope you have a beautiful olive garden.
How to plant an olive tree in the fall and winter?
Olive trees grow best in a Mediterranean climate. The region of California is considered one of the best areas for olive trees.
Even though the temperatures drop during the fall and winter months and there is a lot of rain and snow, you can still have an olive garden if you adopt a scientific approach to planting.
(olive tree in winter)
During the fall and winter months, we do not recommend planting olive trees directly in the soil of your outdoor garden. The low temperatures and changeable weather can be devastating for your olive trees.
Growing olive trees in pots
Many olive trees are grown in pots so that you can plant your olive tree all year round. Olive trees grow best in well-drained soil. In the fall and winter, you can move your olive tree indoors or outdoors to grow in a greenhouse.
(olive tree in pot)
If you choose to grow your olive tree in a pot, you should choose a pot that is large enough to hold your olive tree and has extra space.
Growing an olive tree in a greenhouse
A greenhouse is the ideal location for gardeners who want to grow their olive trees in the fall and winter. You should choose a dwarf olive tree variety that does not exceed 7 feet in height. A greenhouse may not be able to accommodate taller olive trees, but of course, this has to do with the size of your greenhouse.
(olive tree in greenhouse)
In a greenhouse, you should place your olive tree in the right place. Place your olive tree where it will receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day, or you will need to set up grow lights in your greenhouse to ensure that your olive tree receives enough light.
Provide the perfect soil for your olive tree. The pH of the soil for your olive tree should be 6.5 - 8.5. If the pH of your soil is high or low, you will need to adjust it.
Although olive trees like warm weather, they do not like high or constant temperatures. You need to keep the temperature in your greenhouse around 60-65°F during the day and 35-40°F at night. In the winter, keep the greenhouse at around 45°F for at least 13 days.
25' x 10' x 6.6' Upgraded Large Walk-in Greenhouse
This greenhouse is perfect for growing your olive trees in the fall and winter. This is an upgraded heavy-duty greenhouse. In addition to 3 rows of stabilizing top cross bars, 5 sets of top hoops have been added to prevent damage from snow and rain buildup. You can use this greenhouse in the fall and winter with confidence.
With a height of 6.6 feet, you can grow olive trees up to 6 feet tall in this greenhouse.
Growing Olive Trees in the garden bed
Raised garden beds can be used to grow all types of plants. Whether it is vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce, or flowers such as lavender and alstroemeria, they can be grown in raised garden beds. You can grow several olive trees in your garden beds, depending on the size of your garden bed.
You can set up several raised garden beds in your greenhouse for growing olive trees. Or you can set up a raised garden bed on your patio or balcony. If you choose to grow your olive trees in the fall and winter, it is recommended that you set up your raised garden beds in a greenhouse.
Since olive trees require different light, water, and humidity than other plants, it is recommended that you grow only olive trees in your greenhouse. This will make it easier for you to care for your plants and you will also have a greenhouse olive tree garden.
How to care for your olive garden?
How to water
Olive trees are very drought tolerant and don't require much of your time to maintain. You usually grow olive trees in containers like pots or garden beds. The soil in the container shouldn't be completely dry but remember not to water your plant too much. Before watering, stick your finger into the soil to check. Make sure the soil is dry before watering slowly and deeply.
(watering plants)
During the winter months, olive trees are dormant and don't need much water. However, if the topsoil is dry it is an indication that you need to water your olive tree.
How to fertilize
You don't need a lot of fertilizer to take care of your olive garden. Don't add any unnecessary fertilizer to your olive trees in the fall and winter. After early spring, you can add fertilizer to your olive trees. During the growing season, add a small amount of fertilizer to your olive trees and avoid applying large amounts of quick-release fertilizer.
We recommend organic and liquid fertilizers. Liquid fertilizers with trace elements are the best. Organic fertilizers are usually more expensive and contain very little of the nitrogen that olive trees prefer. You can make organic compost from plant fragments or kitchen scraps.
How to prune an olive tree
Olive trees do not need pruning to produce fruit. You do not need to prune your olive tree very often. It is usually best not to prune your olive tree after August until next spring.
It is best to remove the smaller buds in the spring and the bulky branches in the summer. You should prune the top branches of your olive tree back a few inches to encourage lateral growth and facilitate fruit picking.
(Pruning olive tree)
You can also prune the smaller branches on the inside. These twigs will give the olive tree a cluttered appearance and protect it from pests lurking nearby.
Olive Garden Pest Control
Olive tree mite
This is a tiny mite that is invisible to the naked eye. They like to munch on buds, leaves, flowers, and fruit. This pest causes little damage to olive trees.
Control measures
Control the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied.
Plant inspection in spring and summer.
Timely phytosanitary inspections
Eliminate buds "suckers"
Prays oleae
Prays oleae is a moth that specializes in feeding on olive trees. This pest can cause a lot of damage to olive trees. the first generation of Prays oleae feeds on leaves and branches. the second generation of Prays oleae feeds on the flowers produced by the olive tree. If you have natural enemies of Prays oleae in your olive garden, the damage will be greatly minimized.
Olive fly
Olive flies can cause considerable damage to the fruit, thus reducing the quantity and quality of the harvest. olive flies prefer to be active in the spring, and they feed on sugary substances, such as nectar or fruit juices. Summer temperatures and humidity can limit olive fly activity. From 35°C onwards, adult activity and survival rates plummet.
Control measures
Use a mixture of attractants and insecticides in specific locations.
Banding with light aircraft
Olive tree borer-Phloeotribus scarabaeoides
This pest feeds on olive tree branches, leaves, and fruit. Adults often lay eggs in the spring and the larvae become adults in early summer.
Control measures
Remove pruning debris as soon as possible in spring.
Chemical control. Use environmentally friendly insecticides
Conclusion
Olive trees are one of the easiest plants to grow and care for. Spring and summer are the best seasons to build your olive garden. In the fall and winter, you can only grow olives indoors. Besides landscaping, an olive garden can give you much more, such as olive fruit, olive oil, and essential oils. Now is the perfect time to grow your olive trees indoors.
