Care Guide | Olives

Scientific Name

Classification

Origin

USDA Hardiness Zones

Plants have a culture they prefer, just as people from various countries and households have their own customs and traditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture created the USDA hardiness zone map to help gardeners identify the areas in which plants tend to grow well based on past average temperatures/climates. On the USDA's site, you can enter your zip code to identify your hardiness zone.

Olives trees are hardy in Zones 7-11 (depending on the variety) where temperatures never dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. When young, though, you should protect your olive tree from any freezing temperatures. No fear if you live outside a plant's hardiness zone, you can make a few adjustments to help it thrive. The most important adjustment of which is to protect from temperature extremes. 

Height Potential

Olive Trees are slow-growing but can reach heights of 20-30 feet. They will spread just about as wide as they grow tall. They can also be grown in a pot, to help cap growth and can be pruned as needed to maintain the desired height. 

Planting

Olea europaea grow best outdoors where they have room to reach their full height and fruiting potential. Plant multiple different varieties to assist with cross-pollination and fruit yield. Space 20 to 30 feet apart. But you can also grow olive trees indoors as well. Just be sure to provide as much light as possible. They can be grown purely for their ornamental value, but if you want them to fruit, plant a few different varieties for cross-pollination.

Light

Olives thrive in full sun and do not tolerate a lot of shade. Plant in the sunniest spot available. If planting indoors, a south-facing window is probably your best bet.

Soil/Watering

Because they originate in the dry Mediterranean, olive trees need well-drained soil that is never soggy. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings when young.  Once established, they are drought tolerant and the soil can dry out a few inches between waterings. Check out our watering guide to learn more about getting just the right amount of moisture for your plant. 

Fertilizer

For Olive Trees, we recommend fertilizing with a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season: March through August. This will give your plant a growing boost and give it the nutrients it needs to be happy and healthy. Once the cooler temperatures of fall and winter hit, you can take a break from fertilizing as your plant goes dormant. 

For Olives grown in containers, use a slow-release fertilizer such as our 20-6-9 fertilizer fuel for fruiting plants. It lasts for 90 days, so you can set it and forget it. 

Pruning

Olive trees benefit from light pruning. They rely on fresh shoots each season to produce flowers and fruit, since a stem will not fruit again in the same location. Pruning is useful for shaping the tree and improving air circulation to reduce disease, but severe cuts can interfere with future bloom and yield and should be done carefully and minimally. If grown indoors, pruning is essential for maintaining desired height. 

Cold Weather Care

In the cold of fall and winter, your Olive Tree may not be as vibrant as it is during the growing season. No need to fear though; once the season changes, it will naturally "wake up" from its winter rest as it receives more sunlight, warmth, and fertilization. Just help it through those tough cold spells when a young starter. And as it matures, if the place where you live gets lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit, keep it indoors, on a patio next to your home, in your garage, etc. Learn more in our Overwintering Guide.

Fruiting and Harvesting

Common Pests 

After Arrival Care

Please give your plant a little TLC after its journey through the mail 📬. Here are a few steps we recommend:

• Unwrap immediately to provide fresh air to the plant and soil.
• Wait a few days before exposing to full sunlight so your plant can adjust after being in a dark box for several days.
• Always protect from heat and cold because temperature extremes can be stressful or deadly for plants.
• Water. Your baby plant may be parched and even a little wilted but thorough hydration will help it recover.
• Grow out in a larger pot to increase your chances of success—i.e., a quarter gallon—Then transplant to the ground or the next pot size up once the roots fill to the bottom. This will help the plant get sufficient water and nutrients directly to the roots.

Learn more in our After Arrival Care Guide.