olea europaea (olive)

Hi,can any one tell me the best potting compost to use for an olive tree i will be hopefully growing in a pot,thanks, mojo

 

I'de use multipurpose with plenty of added grit or sharps sand, drainage must be good as it comes from the med.

 

TO has it spot on in my opinion. Even a bit of gravel mixed in doesn't hurt.

 

I'd go along with most of that, but I would use a JI mixture with added grit.
Its heavier and tends to last longer.

 

Thought of number 3 Pete. But I'm cheap. :D

 

3 sounds good to me.
welcome back

 

I would suggest JI3 too as my brothers garden (in Crete) is heavy loam with grit (and rocks!) similar to a JI mix. He has 12 mature Olive trees and I think a likewise soil/compost would be needed in a pot.

 

We've two olives grown from cuttings taken in greece in 2003 they are doing OK in JI3 with a bit of extra grit.

 

Hi, Thanks very much every one i will take your advice and look forward to watching my olive tree grow.Dave can you let me know how you took the cuttings and started them off as we are going to greece later this year i would like to have a go with some cuttings.Thanks for your help Mojo

 

O'erindoors bought an Olive tree in a pot 2 years ago from Lidl. At the moment it is in a sunny shaded spot in the garden, when it was in the house, all the leaves fell off! How hardy are these trees and would it be better if I planted it in the ground. At the moment it is about 2' high and looking quite healthy. There doesn't seem to be any grit in the compost it came in so I'm wondering what is the best way to treat it, repot or plant out?

 

I am not sure about planting in the ground, it all depends on the coming winters, pity you didn't buy two then you could experiment, one in the ground and one in a pot. You have the option to move it to a warmer place temporarily if in a pot if a prolonged cold spell is forecast.

 

I've had one planted out for about four years now.
Its in a relativly shelterd sun trap and is doing OK if a bit slow.
I think you need to find a good well drained warm spot, and thay will do alright.
I must test one to destruction one day. :D

 

Our has been outside in a pot for 3 years now. During the storms a couple of weeks ago, it blew over and my lovely pot smashed!! I just about managed to stand it back up, but it fell back down. I couldn't move it, so had to wait for 'im indoords to move it, but we had a frost and the roots caught it. I had a panic, but we don't get hard frosts here and it was just the surface that caught it. Hopefully there is no major damage done, and we are planting it out in the border this year. We are on heavy clay, but will dig in loads of sharp sand and grit.
Years ago it was thought to be far too cold for olives in the UK, but certainly down here, there is no danger to them if you plant them out - they are much hardier than people think!!!