little olive tree

asparagus1968

hi,

bought a little olive tree today-half price. always wanted one!

its about 50 cm tall,quite bushy and healthy looking.

however,i'm in northwest,have a south facing garden.

will it be ok outside or do i need to donate it to someone with a conservatory?

wallbash

Mines larger but has survived outside this year, its just placed out of the wind .

TravellingAbuela

I have had one in a pot which has survived outside for the last four years or so - and I am in the Northwest too with a south facing garden! Although this winter seems to have given it a bit more grief than previous winters and some leaves have dropped off! But I live in hope that once more it will survive!

zzzLazyDaisy

I am in the NW. Five years ago I also got a half price olive tree and it grew happily in my south facing garden, until that really bad winter (was it two years ago?) when we had -12 degrees overnight. Sadly the tree died.

Olive trees can survive the occasional frost or light fall of snow, but a prolonged arctic spell is pushing it, especially with young trees that are not established. It will do better against a south facing wall, if possible as the bricks retain the heat and will also provide shelter from cold winds. You can try protecting the roots with mulch or even standing one of those portable plastic greenhouses around it to give protection in the winter until it is established.

Good luck and enjoy your tree!

PS don't be tempted to pick the olives off the tree and eat them, like I did. They taste foul! Olives only taste good because they have been soaked in brine and then often stored in flavoured oil - but straight off the tree.... YUK! (MY Greek friends fell about laughing when I told them!)

Itismehonest

I'm on a moor in the SW but have an olive tree which is now about 12ft tall. It wasn't expected to survive but did. :beer:

missimaxo

Can I ask where you got it from as I have always wanted one but could not justify the cost.

digitalphase

My neighbours have a fair sized one which is doing well, despite the cold weather. Looks to be pretty established though. We have SW gardens.