Olive Tree in Scotland ?

Anyone know if it would be possable to grow an olive tree outside here in the central belt of Scotland.? Anyone done it ? Advice welcome.
I have a Palm and Tree Fern that have both survived a few years now ( with some winter protection) so thinking about Olive Tree next.

 

Hi Davie,

There was a big long post a few days back about olive trees (which I hijacked to ask why mine had died at the top!! ) - Dave W seems to be our man with the olive knoweldge!!

For info, I'm growing my olive tree in an unheated porch - frost free, but not warm, and it's certainly not killed it (bar the strangeness at the top). I don't know if it would be as happy in the ground though, particularly in cold snaps like we're having at the moment? Perhaps some overwintering techniques like wrapping fleece around it may help?

Cheers,

Dave

 

Hi Davie
In essence the answer is 'Yes, but..'
Have a look at the thread

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001270

As Dave down south of The Wall says some protection will be required and I'd plant in a large pot so it can be moved to a sheltered spot in winter.

 

I will give it a go in a pot, but was wondering if it would survive in the ground, dont mind having to put protection on it dureing winter, as I do now with a couple of plants. I will start it off in pot this summer and see how it go's.

 

Hi Davie,

Hope it grows well - mine is still going after giving it the mother of all haircuts last week (i.e. lopping the top off! )

I hope to get mine outside one day, but we'll have to see, esp after the snow we've had here this weekend! Brr :eek:

Cheers,

Dave

 

Davie
Root growth with olives seems to be fairly slow so you should be ok with a pot for quite a while. Also if you have it in a pot the additional warmth (in summer) should help encourage the roots to grow a bit faster.

 

What do you reckon, Dave W? Is it a good idea to bring olives on from seed, or get grafted trees?

 

Find a friend with an olive and root a cutting Nixon. Seeds would be very hit or miss and take ages.
I'm unsure about buying grafted UK grown olives since ours is neither use nor ornament. But I do have a friend down south who had a good one until he let the frost kill it. Much will depend on what you buy. Ours was a cheap one!

I'll be taking cuttings from our Greek olives later in the year and would be pleased to pop a couple in the post if you fancy your chances at rooting them.

 

I think in colder areas, they're better in pots where they can be protected in winter; but maybe when they're bigger [some years!] they might be OK outside. I have 2 hardy rhododendrons about 5'' high which have been badly damaged by frost, I'm concluding it's because they're little. {Unless anyone knows different!]

 

ta very much Dave W! I'll always give things a go! Will e-mail the address. Have a friend down south who brought one back from Spain - must see if I can get cuttings from her too, and compare nationalities!

 

Sign me up for those cuttings of the Greek Olives, please Dave! If mine doesn't take this year, I'll always be keen to grow another one! We love all things Greek in our house - looking forward to getting our patio built in a med style, and hopefully having some nice summer evenings to enjoy with it!

PS - I'm more than happy to swap you some cuttings from my rare Pepper Tree I picked up the other week (see the post on Drimys Lanceolata) or anything else you want :D

 

Nixon & Dave
I'll not be ready to take cuttings until later in the year as I want to see how the plants develop. The larger one which I thought wasn't going to flower is now showing flower buds as well as leaf buds.Loads of flowers on the smaller one.

We will be back in Greece in June and home again in early July so I'll give the mother tree another pat and see what comes away in my hand.
Dave please email me your address.
I'll check with you both before posting cuttings - don't want them lying on the doormat for days if you ar going to be way from home.

 

much appreciate it Dave W - thought I'd send you the info straight away, so you can lose it! (Have you noticed my comments re photo comp?)
I haven't much to offer in exchange at the mo- unless you'd like streptocarpus or teasels?!

 

My brother moved to Crete two years ago and we (inhouse advisor and I) are going there for the first time in October. He has 12 Olive trees in his garden, Suppose I could liberate some cuttings too. We can all had a competition then.

Nixon ... or pot holders??

 

ha ha!