Olive tree

Olive tree: Canopy width 600 cm (236 in). Full sun, 6–8 hours a day.

Key facts

Canopy width	600 cm (236 in)
Sun	Full sun, 6–8 hours a day
Root depth	40 cm (16 in)
Height when grown	540 cm (213 in)
Crop rotation group	Herbs, flowers and perennials
Support	None needed

How it is started	From a bought plant
When to plant	Outdoors after the last frost; soil at least 8 °C

Takes transplanting	Only with care, keep the root ball
Life cycle	Perennial
Cold tolerance	Tender, hurt by frost → takes a light frost
Soil	Ordinary garden soil, free draining, pH 6–7.5
In a pot	—
Watering	Water when the soil is dry two fingers down; while fruit sets, in dry spells
Feeding	Moderate; in spring
Support and training	A stake; prune, tie in as it grows

Days to first harvest	3–5 years, from planting
Ready when	The fruit has its full colour
Harvest window	All at once, 3–6 weeks
Typical yield	5–20 kg per plant
Botanical family	Oleaceae
Watch out for	Fruit flies, scale insects
First crop after	3–5 years
Pollination	Needs another variety nearby

◐ good with a condition · Why, with the sources →

Open the free planner, drop Olive tree onto a bed and see how many plants fit.

Plant out	Mar–Apr
Harvest	Oct–Nov

My country Last spring frost where I live

Give the date once and this page, the sowing calendar and the planner all follow it.

Months for a temperate climate: about a month later in the north and a month earlier in the south. Give your own last frost date for exact dates.

Crops that need about the same room and care, from another family.