You might think of the olive tree, Olea europaea, more as a tree you’d find on vacation than in your own backyard. But because it grows slowly and doesn’t get very big, it’s a good tree for gardens in the UK. They can be grown in borders but make good trees for pots, too. There are now a lot of cultivars that can handle cooler temperatures, but the best results will come from a sunny, protected spot. You might even be able to grow your own olives. There might not be enough for a bottle of olive oil, but there will be enough to cure and serve as an appetizer.
With their elegant silvery foliage and Mediterranean flair olive trees make outstanding landscape specimens in suitable climates. Whether growing for aesthetics fruit production, or both, optimal olive tree planting time is key for getting your trees off to a healthy start. So when should you plant these iconic beauties? Let’s look at the ideal seasons and techniques for planting olive trees.
Why Timing Matters for Planting
Planting olive trees at the right time of year allows them to:
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Establish roots quickly before heat or cold stresses newly planted trees
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Maximize growing time for young trees to become well established before the first winter
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Take advantage of plentiful moisture in spring and fall to support root growth
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Avoid major weather extremes that place extra demands on new plantings
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Recover from transplant shock with minimal setback to growth or fruiting
Planting olive trees when conditions aren’t ideal exposes them to additional stresses that may result in stunted growth, lackluster performance, or even death of new trees. Careful timing gives olive trees the best shot at not just surviving, but thriving.
Spring Planting Benefits
Across most olive-growing regions, spring reigns as peak planting time for these Mediterranean natives. Here’s why:
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Soil moisture is plentiful from winter rains or snowmelt This prevents water stress to newly planted trees,
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Cool spring temperatures prevent newly planted trees from overheating before roots become established
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Trees have the entire growing season to root deeply before going dormant in winter.
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Flower buds on spring-planted trees have time to develop, allowing earlier fruit production.
Spring offers ideal conditions across most olive-friendly zones for transplanting container trees or planting bareroot stock.
Aim for early to mid spring after the last average frost but before the heat of summer kicks in. Avoid planting during unseasonable cold snaps or heat waves.
Success Tips for Spring Olive Tree Planting
Follow best practices for spring planting success:
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Choose the largest size tree you can afford to get fruit sooner. Larger trees also recover from transplanting better.
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Pick a planting spot with full sun exposure (at least 6 hours daily) and well-draining soil. Improve drainage by incorporating gravel into heavy clay soils.
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Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball. Backfill with native soil, tamping down gently.
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Water thoroughly after planting and topdress with 2-3 inches of organic mulch around trees.
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Stake newly planted trees if needed to prevent wind damage to shallow roots.
Why Fall Can Also Work Well
While spring reigns supreme for planting olives, fall is another feasible option in some regions. Here are the advantages of fall planting:
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Cool temperatures reduce transplant shock and stress on newly planted trees.
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Winter rains lessen need for irrigation of newly planted trees.
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Trees develop root systems before spring growth resumes.
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Heat-loving olives avoid challenges of establishing during summer.
Aim to plant at least 6-8 weeks before your average first fall frost to allow enough establishment time beforehand. Fall planting mainly applies to Zones 8-10. In colder zones, stick with spring planting.
Fall Olive Tree Planting Pointers
Follow these guidelines for the best results from fall planting:
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Select the planting spot in advance and improve drainage if needed via amendments.
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Water olive trees well the day before transplanting to lessen transplant shock.
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Plant trees at the same depth they were growing before, tamping soil gently around the root ball.
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Water deeply after planting and mulch well. Stake large trees if necessary.
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Wrap young tree trunks with tree wrap to protect from rodent damage and winter sunscald.
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Irrigate occasionally during warm fall spells if rainfall is lacking.
Can You Plant Olive Trees in Summer?
Summertime planting of olive trees is inadvisable across most regions. Pitfalls include:
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High evaporation rates make adequate watering difficult.
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Hot soil temperatures can damage tender feeder roots.
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Intense sun and heat magnify transplant shock.
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Olive trees focus energy on survival, not growth and fruiting.
However, summer planting can succeed if excellent irrigation is provided and trees receive partial shade for the first weeks. Prioritize watering newly planted trees during hot spells. Summer works only in mild zones lacking extreme heat.
Olive Tree Planting Made Simple
Follow this cheat sheet for smooth sailing when planting olive trees:
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Spring planting is optimal in most olive-growing zones. Pick early to mid spring after the last frost.
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Fall planting is an option for Zone 8-10 gardens if done at least 6-8 weeks pre-frost.
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Boost drainage, control weeds, and pre-irrigate planting sites before planting day.
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Carefully transplant trees, keeping the root ball intact. Water deeply and mulch after planting.
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Stake large trees and wrap trunks if planting in fall. Remove stakes after trees establish.
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Water young trees regularly until they’re well established. Ease off watering of mature trees.
With sound timing and care, you can plant olive trees successfully in spring, fall, or even summer in amenable climates. Time it right and you’ll be rewarded with vigorous trees blessing the landscape with silvery foliage, seasonal blooms, and eventually, tasty olives.
Harvesting and storing olives
For a new tree, it will take about four years to bear fruit. If it’s not warm and sunny enough, it might not bear fruit at all. However if yours does, it’s best to harvest the olives in late autumn.
For those who have tried eating an olive straight from the tree, you know why they need to be cured: they taste very bitter. To make them taste good, soak them in a brine solution for up to six weeks and keep changing the water.
How to plant olive trees
If you want to grow your olive tree in a border, you should dig a hole and add mycorrhizal fungi to help it grow quickly. If you have heavy soil then add plenty of grit to aid drainage. Mix compost and grit with some organic matter to make a soil-based mix for growing in a pot or raised bed.
Most olive trees come in pots, so you can plant them whenever you want, as long as the ground isn’t frozen.
Olive trees can be grown from seeds, but it takes a long time and the plant you end up with will be a wild type instead of its parent cultivar. You need heat to get seeds to germinate – sow undercover in a propagator in spring.
Olive Trees In Your Garden, The 101 and Everything You Need to Know.
FAQ
What is the best time to plant an olive tree?
Where is the best place to plant an olive tree?
How to prepare soil for olive trees?
How many years does it take for an olive tree to produce?
When should olive trees be planted?
However, I would still choose the period between autumn and spring since that’s the time when olive plants grow their roots rapidly, which will encourage healthy olive growth. Olive trees are meant to be planted outside, but you can keep them inside as long as you have a large enough pot.
How do you plant an olive tree?
Plant olive trees in spring or fall; avoid planting olives during hot, dry summer weather. Prepare a planting site in full sun that is sheltered from a prevailing breeze or wind. Work well-rotted compost or manure into the soil. Dig a hole half again as deep and twice as wide as the tree’s roots.
Can you grow olive trees in the winter?
Although they grow best in a sunny Mediterranean climate, like that found along the California coast, it’s possible to grow olive trees almost anywhere if you protect them during harsh winters. You can even grow olive trees in containers and bring them indoors before freezing temperatures arrive.
How long do olive trees take to grow?
Propagating olives from cuttings will see fruit in around seven years. If you grow from seed, olive trees will likely take up to 15 years to bear fruit. Take the cutting in the summer once the new growth has hardened off. If you are growing olives for harvest, wait until the new olives have formed and are visible.
