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Florida Gardening

Is anyone in 9a growing an olive tree?

6 years ago

A friend has had an olive tree in a pot in his yard for 2 years. It started to look a little scraggly, so I asked him if he was going to plant it, and he said he didn't want it, that I could have it. HIs son gave it to him years ago, but he doesn't like olives.

I would like to plant it for filtered shade in my courtyard, but I don't know if it will bear here, because it doesn't have a tag as to variety, just "Olive." He has never fertilized it and has it sitting in shade, but it keeps growing in that same pot, so it must be pretty hardy. I know there used to be an olive tree farm in Ocala, because I found an article about it.

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Comments (9)

Glenn Jones(9b)
6 years ago
I have grown them for friend, planted 7or 8and they all are doing well and 5 of them have produced. 1 friend is preserving them and gave me a jar of them last year. I don't like olives but my wife does and she said they were great. Do you know what type? They have chill hours so knowing what type would help to find out if it will get what in needs. Once established they like dry Sandy soil and live for 100s of years.
bossyvossy
6 years ago
I grow Mission and Arbequina in Houston z9a. I made it a point to plant in a dry area of my garden. Very low maintenance, they haven’t produced fruit.
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dirtygardener
Original Author
6 years ago
Glenn - like I said in my original message, I don't know the type, but I assume it's very cold hardy, because it was sitting out in that pot during our freeze when it went down to 22F for a few hours on 2 separate nights,.

bossyvossy - how long have they been in the ground? I may need to rethink where I want to put it, because it's sort of wet there, but maybe I can amend the soil with some sand or tiny gravel to improve drainage.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Olives are more cold tolerant than you think. Can be grown here very successfully in the PNW although summers are not hot enough here for them to be very fruitful. But they are Mediterranean in origin and conditions that mimic that climate will produce the best results - mild damp winters, hot dry summers and minimal humidity. Fast draining but lean soil.
Glenn Jones(9b)
6 years ago
Sorry DG I missed that. I would get it even if I couldn't plant it. You could always trade it and a lot of people want them.
dirtygardener
Original Author
6 years ago
Glenn, that's a good idea! It would need repotting and a little TLC first, or nobody would want it, but believe it or not, I hadn't even thought about trading it. Well, I have to get it yet. Will get my friend to take me to pick it up next week, work on it, and see what I have.
bea (zone 9a -Jax area)
6 years ago
DG if you devide you don't want it I would LOVE to have it - it would bring me a touch of home. Being Greek I grew up with olive trees everywhere and love olives. Olives and their oil were the top export product of Greece when I was growing up.
Glenn Jones(9b)
6 years ago
See people want them.
bossyvossy
6 years ago
Maybe 3-4 YO? Young trees. I picked the dryest, sunniest spot, similar to where I would place a yucca.

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