How to Grow Olive Trees in the UK
- 1). Find a location that gets lots of sun and provides protection from winds coming from the east and north. Olive trees need lots of sunshine to allow fruit to ripen.
- 2
Olive trees like loam-based compost.b?ache image by Claudio Calcagno from Fotolia.com
Dig a large hole in proportion to the tree. A large hole allows you to create the correct drainage for your olive tree. Good drainage is one of the most important factors when it comes to growing olive trees. Put gravel in the base of the hole and then add a good quality compost around your tree. - 3). Add slow release fertilizer around the base of the olive tree. Use a fertilizer containing medium levels of nitrogen. Apply the fertilizer on two or three occasions, when the tree reaches full growth during the warm months.
- 4). Feed the olive tree with a liquid plant food once a month and seaweed extract once a year. Seaweed extract helps the tree reach its full fruiting potential.
- 5). Water the olive tree during dry spells. Even though the U.K. sees a lot of rainfall, the summer months can experience extended periods of dry weather.
- 6). Prune your olive tree every year in late spring. East of Eden Plants recommends pruning new shoots when they reach 1.5m (4.9 feet) in height. You will also have to remove some old branches to prevent crowding. Pruning helps keep the olive tree at your preferred size.
- 7
Another name for hessian cloth is burlap.Texture of sacks image by Bambuh from Fotolia.com
Protect your olive tree from temperatures below minus 5 degrees C (23 F). The U.K., especially northern areas, can experience cold days during the winter. Wrap a few layers of hessian cloth or horticultural fleece around the tree's trunk.
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