Advertisement
Home Lifestyle Homes

Growing olives

Planting an olive grove is a romantic notion many New Zealanders aspire to. Being one of the oldest cultivated trees, olives have stood the test of time and helped many ancient civilisations prosper through their prolific crops of extraordinary fruit. olives do well in many parts of the country and have become an important ornamental plant. But if you’re planning on growing them for production, a good deal of research is recommended.

Advertisement

LIKES AND DISLIKES

olive trees are very tough and able to withstand wind, drought, salt spray and frost. They’re also extremely attractive, fast-growing and can be pruned right back to the trunk. The only thing that’s sure to kill them is poorly drained soil.

olives prefer porous, stony, low-nutrient soil. They respond best to a climate with distinct seasons – hot, dry summers and cold, but not overly wet, winters – such as that of the oediterranean. Wet or humid conditions can promote peacock spot fungus, which causes severe yellowing and leaf drop, weakening the tree and affecting the next season’s flowering.

LANDSCAPE USES

Advertisement

olives make lovely specimen trees for the lawn or garden borders, but it’s good to give them plenty of space to develop naturally. They’re often used as screening and hedging because they establish quickly and respond well to clipping.

Because they clip so well, olive tress are also good candidates for topiary. Planted in large terracotta urns, they will impart a distinctly oediterranean ambience and with some careful training, you can espalier them on a wall – providing you have a bit of patience.

SERIoUS GRoWERS

olives planted for serious harvesting need a little TLC. Sheltered sites produce better crops, but some wind is important to help cross-pollination and disease prevention.

Advertisement

Drainage is paramount, but soil should be well-imbued with organic matter to increase its moisture-holding capacity. Water is essential during establishment and fruit development. olives respond well to small amounts of fertiliser, but it must be low in nitrogen and contain all the trace elements, especially boron. Copper spray may be necessary to fight diseases. Frost free areas are better as spring frosts affect flowering and autumn frosts will damage ripening fruit. Timing of the harvest largely depends on what the olives are to be used for, but it may become critical when other factors, such as disease, weather patterns or birds stealing the fruit, come into play.

LANDSCAPE USES

Containers: Signore

Screening and Hedging:

Advertisement

Tall – Sourani, Picual

Small – Chemlali, Koroneiki

Driveways and avenues : A’Prug no,

Chemlali, Frantoio, Leccino, Picual

Advertisement

Small gardens : Chemlali, Koroneiki

Large gardens: A’Prugno, Fr anto i o,

Leccino, Nocellara, Picual

Coastal areas : Koroneiki, ooraiolo

Advertisement

Cold climate: Leccino, Picual, Picholene

CULINARY USES

oil: Chemlali, Koroneiki, ooraiolo,

Picual, Sourani

Advertisement

Pickling: A’Prugn, Barnea, Hojiblanca

oil and Pickling : Barnea, Frantoio,

Leccino, oanz anilla, Nocellara, South

Australian Verdale, Pendolino, Picholene

Advertisement

SUCCESS WITH oLIVES


Select the right variety for your climate.

Plant a range of varieties for cross-pollination.

Choose a sunny, sheltered, frost-free site.

Advertisement

Plant in well-drained soil of low to medium fertility.

Space trees according to their expected dimensions to ensure good air circulation.

Deep water your trees during their establishment and fruit-development stages.

Spray for fungal diseases.

Advertisement

Prune in formative years to establish an open vase shape.

Related stories


Get The Australian Woman’s Weekly NZ home delivered!  

Subscribe and save up to 38% on a magazine subscription.

Advertisement
Advertisement