Olive tree

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:32 pm

My Olea europaea 'Arbequina' still has fruit on it. I was under the impression when I bought this it was suitable for oil as well as edibility. There's very little flesh on the fruit but it has a high oil content for the amount of flesh. Not a very viable olive for commerce here in my opinion. Does anyone know which variety is being grown commercially here on Pender Island?

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:22 pm

How old is your tree Barrie?

Does this species need any protection during our colder winters or is it rock solid here?

Is the fruit good tasting?

I just ate a feijoa of my tree on Saturday. We haven't been cold enough for it to receive frost damage. It was the first one I have ever eaten and man they are good. Very sweet tasting.
One of my trees is from you by the way.

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:45 pm

Wes ... I really can't say for certain how old the tree is. I planted it as a gallon sized plant about 4 years ago. It stands roughly 9' tall and this year is the first where I've pinched out the tip growth to induce a more compact habit. I've never protected it but "rock solid" is only reserved for the old timers. Taste ... I know nothing of prepering olives for eating and with the limited flesh on these I wouldn't bother.
Good to hear about your Pineapple guava

I've never tried them either but then again I've never had a fruiting specimen. How'd you get yours to fruit ... multiple plantings?

Cheers, Barrie.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:16 am

Yes the one I bought from you was my second one. They are planted ten feet away from each other.

They are very hardy and stay evergreen.

damir · Post by **damir** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:49 am

i have heard that this cultivar of olive tree is the most cold hardy olive. brought from spain to bulgaria,some survived -20C. most olive trees are hardy to -10,maybe -12C. this one looks promissing for cooler climates. plant it in some protected spot in garden may result with your own olives. i will definitly try some.
rgds

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:36 am

I had a beautiful Olive Tree for about 7 or 8 years and then it mysteriously died.

Planted between two irrigation zones, I think it got water from both and roots rotted.

Removing it was a big job because of the woody one-inch long thorns...lots of bandaids.

The fragrance of the blossoms was wonderful and the grey-green leaves are beautiful.

Haven't been able to find an olive tree at the nursery since then but I do want another one.

Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:12 am

Barb, do you mean the European olive or the Russian olive?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:17 am

Hi Igor,
I think it was called Russian Olive...a beautiful tree.

But labels can't be trusted, I know.
A lot of plants now are labelled "tropical foliage"...

Barb

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:53 am

Awhile ago I heard about a cultivar of olive which had been developed in Switzerland and could withstand -20 C, greatly extending its growing area! I'll try to find some more info and post it here

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:14 pm

There's very limited info about it on the web, but you can check out these sites:

http://www.icangarden.com/document.cfm? ... temid=7520 (towards the bottom of the page)

http://www.thenatural-gardener.com/March2009.pdf (on page 12)

http://www.specimentrees.com/cart/produ ... cellaneous

It's called "Eddy's Winter Wonder", and is apparently an Olea europea which is hardy to zone 6 ! I'm going to try to get some from the 3rd website, as long as shipping doesn't cost an arm and a leg!

damir · Post by **damir** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:07 pm

hi cameron. did u find something more about this olive? at the web there is no much info. besides bulgarian aberquina this cultivar could be great for cooler climates. for example mine. it would be great to have my own olives, in zone 7a.
thanks for sharing
rgds

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:42 pm

Check out these olive trees.

http://www.youtube.com/user/OliveADream ... 1I9LyexxXs

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:49 am

Weird...Obviously not for olive production?

Imagine the rank growth when the new owner hasn't got pruning sheers.

Bet they cost a pretty penny...
Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:24 pm

I bet they cost a bunch.

I thought they kind of looked like elf trees.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:20 pm

W has two olives she bought from Cistus for a lot of money a few years ago. She babies them. They never ever fruit, which annoys her!
Maybe in 2012....