How to care for an olive tree. olive trees

The first half of spring is stingy with flowering plants. Yes, primroses are already pleasing, but there is a very special plant that is impossible not to be touched. This is a perennial evergreen groundcover of obriet. I think those who saw low pillows, or, as they say, curtains of this plant during flowering, probably wanted to have it in their garden. And I hasten to please you, obrieta is a very unpretentious and easy-to-care plant. Although, there are some features.

Delicious cabbage soup with lamb, sweet peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and, of course, with cabbage! It takes quite a lot of time to prepare this dish, but this does not mean that you have to stomp in the kitchen all day. Prepare vegetables and meat - wash, chop, arrange in bowls. Then sauté vegetables, add lamb. When the soup boils, you can go about your business for about 1.5 hours, then add potatoes and cabbage and bring to readiness for another half hour.

If you have an apple tree growing in your garden, naturally you want to get as many tasty fruits from it as possible. Often, novice gardeners believe that the more magnificent the tree, the greater the harvest will please. But it's not. In order for an apple tree to give a rich, high-quality harvest, so that the fruits are large and juicy, each of its branches must receive enough light and air. With a decrease in the amount of light on the branches up to 30 percent, fruit buds do not form on the trees.

Ferns are one of the categories that are actively gaining popularity. indoor plants. Their luxurious leaves with unique ornaments and soothing mysterious shades of green look so elegant that it is difficult to resist the beauty of ferns, even if there is no suitable place for them. Along with unpretentious ferns, rare and original species are becoming more common. And among them is a bizarre epiphyte polypodium with unusual leaves and colors.

Bigos in Belarusian - a hot dish from sauerkraut and meat, which is prepared in many countries: Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine and Belarus. Each country has its own characteristics of cooking, but the basis is about the same everywhere - a mixture of sour and fresh white cabbage, pork belly and smoked meats. Bigos is cooked for a long time, but the result is worth it. You can easily get rid of the not very pleasant aroma of stewed sauerkraut by following my recommendations.

Gardeners, waking up from their "winter hibernation", miss gardening, and their hands are reaching for the tools. But it is important to approach the issue of pruning ornamental plants with skill. After all, it’s not for nothing that they say “measure seven times, but cut once.” Our article will help you figure out how to make the right spring “hairstyles” for plants, which of the green pets will gladly respond to a new haircut, and for which garden residents it is better to wait a little with pruning.

Cucumbers are the favorite crop of most gardeners, so they grow in our vegetable beds everywhere. But quite often, inexperienced summer residents have many questions about their cultivation and, first of all, in open ground. The fact is that cucumbers are very heat-loving plants, and the agricultural technology of this crop in the zones temperate climate has its own characteristics. Everything you need to know about growing cucumbers in the open field, we will tell in this article.

May Days please with warmth and the opportunity to spend more time on the sites. But the long-awaited month of the arrival of stable heat cannot boast of balance. lunar calendar. In May, periods favorable for work only in ornamental garden or only in the garden, are quite long, and there are quite a few days suitable for any plants. The lunar calendar for May 2019 requires planning and skillful timing of planting and sowing.

Snack cake - simple and delicious! Such a chicken liver cake with vegetables and delicious sauce will decorate a modest family holiday or Sunday dinner. Liver pancakes, they are the cakes of our cake, are prepared very easily, the easiest way to make liver dough is in a blender. Pancakes are fried for several minutes on each side. Cream (sauce) for a snack cake is made from sour cream with mayonnaise and herbs. If you rub the dill with salt, the cream will turn into a light green color.

Despite the popularity of the popular nickname “bottle palm”, it is very difficult to confuse the authentic bottle palm giophorba with its relatives. A real indoor giant and a rather rare plant, giophorba - it is one of the most elite palms. She became famous not only for her special, bottle-like barrel, but also for her very difficult character. Caring for giophorba is no more difficult than caring for ordinary indoor palm trees. But the conditions will have to be chosen.

Warm salad with funchose, beef and mushrooms - delicious dish for the lazy. Funchoza - rice or glass noodles - is one of the easiest to prepare among its pasta relatives. It is enough to pour glass noodles with boiling water and leave for a few minutes, then drain the water. Funchoza does not stick together, it does not need to be watered with oil. I advise you to cut long noodles into smaller fragments with scissors, so as not to inadvertently catch the entire portion of noodles in one sitting.

Surely, many of you have met this plant, at least as a component of some cosmetic or food products. It is “disguised” under different names: “jujube”, “unabi”, “jujuba”, “Chinese date”, but all this is one and the same plant. This is the name of a culture that has long been grown in China, moreover, it was grown as a medicinal one. From China, it was brought to the countries of the Mediterranean, and from there, jujube began to slowly spread throughout the world.

May chores in the ornamental garden are always associated with the need to use every free minute as productively as possible. This month, seedlings of flowers are planted and begin seasonal decoration. But neither shrubs, nor lianas, nor trees should be forgotten. Due to the imbalance of the lunar calendar this month with ornamental plants it is better to work in the beginning and middle of May. But the weather does not always allow you to follow the recommendations.

Why do people move out of town and buy cottages? For a variety of reasons, of course, including practical and material ones. But the main idea is still - to be closer to nature. The long-awaited summer season has already begun, we are waiting for a lot of work in the garden and garden. With this material we want to remind you and ourselves - in order for work to be a joy, you must not forget to rest. And what can be better rest on the fresh air? Only rest in the equipped corner of your own garden.

European olives (Olea europea) are a type of evergreen tree belonging to the Oleaceae family. Historically, the olive tree is the oldest cultivated by people and one of the most cold-resistant plant species of this type. In human culture (not only culinary and agricultural), the plant plays an important role.

Historical information about the plant

Some archaeological evidence suggests that olives may have been domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean region 10,000 years ago. Other evidence suggests that Olea europaea was first cultivated in Crete and Syria over 5,000 years ago. Around 600 BC e. there is an active distribution of olive oil in Greece, Italy and other Mediterranean countries. It has been closely associated with the religion, culture, medicine and culinary traditions of peoples for thousands of years.

Since ancient times, the oil of this plant has occupied a special place in people's lives. In Christianity, the liquid is used in the sacrament of anointing. In fact, there are many cultures where the dead body was oiled before being buried. The Prophet Muhammad also encouraged the believers to use olive oil.

The colonizers and settlers brought two important things to the New World for them - grapes and olives. However, the purpose of bringing olives was not so that they could serve as food, but to be used for ritual purposes. This is one of the reasons that California is another major supplier of olives today, but the olives produced there are not as good.

The olive is one of the oldest and most widespread plants. It is even mentioned in the Bible (a dove brought an olive branch to Noah to show that the flood was over). For many years, the plant has been a symbol of peace, wisdom, glory, fertility, strength and purity.

Ancient Greek mythology tells how the goddess Athena and the god Poseidon argued over who would give their name to the new city in Attica. The almighty Zeus, seeking a solution to the dispute, decided that the city would be named after the one who provided the best gift to the people of Attica.

Poseidon hit the rock with his trident, a spring appeared from there, but the water was sea. Athena struck the ground near the Acropolis with her spear and an olive tree grew there. It was accepted as a gift of greater value, since its fruits provide food, medicine, cosmetics, etc. To this day, the city bears the name of the goddess Athena, and is still the capital of Greece. According to tradition, the tree that still grows there is the first gift given by the gods to the inhabitants of Earth.

The tree can be grown directly from the seed. To do this, it is placed in water for a day, and then planted in a small pot with a mixture of sand and soil. A new seedling should appear in about 3 months. More often olives propagate by separating stem cuttings. This is done in the summer. The best soil for this is acid-alkaline. If it is enriched with vitamins and minerals, the tree will have more foliage. The plant is fertilized once a month in spring and summer with a nitrogen fertilizer. Every spring, the crown of the tree can be cut and shaped. Irrigation is important for the proper development of the tree.

In spring and summer, it should be watered regularly, after waiting for the soil to dry out a little. In autumn, irrigation is gradually reduced, and in winter the land should be dry for most of the time. Since the tree comes from the Mediterranean region, where the weather is drier and hotter, it needs a lot of light and warmth. It is good to plant where the sun does not shine directly all day. Winter temperature should be at least 0 degrees. These trees are strong and disease-resistant, but mites and aphids are among the most dangerous pests.

Olives are used to promote health.Symptoms and diseases that are positively affected by the consumption (internal or external) of olives and oil:

• headache;
• heartache;
• high pressure;
• uterine bleeding;
• asthma;
• eye diseases;
• hair loss;
• skin damage and rash;
• spasms and diseases of the nerves;
• herpes;
• hives.

Olive oil is classified according to the method of production and the content of oleic acid in it. Cold-pressed virgin oil contains up to 2% oleic acid. Refined oil is produced using heat or a solvent and requires further processing to obtain a product containing up to 3.3% oleic acid.

Olive pollen is one of the most important causes of seasonal respiratory allergies in Mediterranean countries. Contact dermatitis and food allergies to olive tree and olive oil have also been reported.

The tree grows very slowly, so some people consider it immortal. Some trees are believed to be over 1000 years old. Now there are trees in the world that, according to official data, are more than 3,000 years old. The olive tree is often referred to as the "eternal tree".

For Avicenna, the olive was a cure for almost all diseases. The hot temperament of the Mediterranean population, according to their beliefs, depends on the consumption of olives, which are almost daily present in their menu.

These trees are planted for both ornamental and practical purposes, such as use as a wind barrier and to control soil erosion in the Mediterranean region. The wood is used in furniture making in South Africa. She and the pits of olives are excellent solid fuel.

Today, the total number of trees in the world is about 800 million. Approximately 150 million of them are located in their historical homeland - Greece, where olive trees grow, which are cultivated, harvested and processed using methods known since ancient times. A very interesting fact is that almost all the land allocated for the cultivation of olives (98%) is located in the Mediterranean Sea.

More than 100 are grown in Greece various kinds olives, the country is known for its hot summers and mild winters. The unique combination of this climate with dry and stony soil contributes to the production of exceptionally high quality olive oil, as well as olives with large fruits and excellent taste.

Olive Tree, or the olive tree belongs to the olive family. It occurs naturally in the form of shrubs and trees. The European olive is especially popular. There are about sixty types of culture. The plant is native to Africa, Southern Europe, Australia and South Asia. Trees have an uneven structure. They have long branches. The life cycle of an olive tree is about 300 years. Culture is considered to be long-livers. An olive tree can be kept at home for up to 10 years. Then you need to land in open ground. The olive produces valuable fruits. The mass of one is no more than five grams. The leaves of the olive tree have a gray-green hue. The vegetative organs of the plant contain a high concentration of starch. Thanks to this, the culture copes well with prolonged drought. Olive wood is painted grey.

To grow an olive tree, it is necessary to create warm microclimatic conditions.

Lighting

The olive tree prefers warm conditions. In nature, the plant can be found on brightly lit shores. Does not tolerate shaded areas.

Temperature regime

The olive tree can withstand temperatures as low as -15 degrees. With severe prolonged frosts, the plant will die.

During the period of active vegetative development, it is recommended to maintain the temperature at a level of + 18 to + 20 degrees. During the flowering stage, return frosts can affect yields. Extreme heat combined with dry air also harms the tree.

Watering

The culture responds well to uniform soil moisture. In the spring-summer season, it is advisable to regularly water the substrate. Prolonged exposure to dry soil leads to leaf fall.

In winter, the amount of watering should be reduced. Moisten enough as the substrate dries. For the olive tree, it is advisable to use warm, soft water.

Humidity

The plant does not require special conditions. In the hot season, it is recommended to increase the level of water content in the air. This will require several times a day to spray the plant with water at room temperature.

In the dry season, it is advisable to spray warm water on the tree.

Transplant Features

An olive tree can survive a change in soil and substrate. It is not advisable to transplant adult olive representatives. The root system of a tree is often damaged.

For transplantation, you need to prepare a suitable place. Growing in rotten, dry soil often results in wilting. In its natural environment, the plant can be found in the rock. Therefore, it is possible to add charcoal and brick pieces to the soil during planting.

pruning

The olive tree needs to be sanitized in a timely manner. The plant is often damaged by pests. Outdoors in early spring affected areas should be removed.

Indoor culture can be given a compact shape. To do this, remove weakened shoots and long branches. The plant tolerates shearing well. For one growing season, the culture will give excellent growth.

If the plant is cultivated for harvesting, the peculiarity of the olive tree must be taken into account. The fruits are formed exclusively on the shoots of the previous year. Therefore, cardinal pruning can destroy a large number of olives.

Plant in the area

In the open air, the tree takes root well and bears fruit in the southern part of the Crimea and the Mediterranean region. In more severe conditions, the culture can be grown in a spacious room, winter garden, greenhouse or room.

Frost at -5 degrees will damage the weakened branches of the olive tree. At -15 degrees, the whole plant will die. Even with a slight decrease in temperature, a sharp deterioration in the taste of fruits and olive oil was noted.

For abundant fruiting, you should choose the right tree varieties.

To harvest, you must purchase garden varieties. Bred subspecies guarantee regular fruiting.

The nuances of cultivation at home can be found in the video:

Growing technology

soil mixture

Waterlogged substrate and poor soil carrying capacity are the main causes of olive tree wilting. Areas where water accumulates should be avoided. When planting, be sure to make a thick layer of drainage.

You can protect the plant from excessive rainfall by planting on a gentle slope. It is advisable not to use a fertile substrate. An excessive amount of nutrients causes intensive growth of the tree. As a result, the percentage of yield decreases.

The ideal soil for growing a tree should meet several requirements:

1. good drainage;
2. looseness;
3. fineness.

If possible, fill the planting hole with a mixture of sandy and loamy soil.

How to feed

Nutritional deficiencies can be replenished with nitrogen. The procedure should be carried out once a year. For one hundred square meters you will need no more than 1.2 kg. Can be planted next to olives natural producers of nitrogen (legumes). It is also recommended to periodically add compost to the soil.

The olive tree should be fed with nitrogen and compost.

container growing

To grow olives indoors, you first need to prepare the right variety. It is advisable to purchase a dwarf culture. The container should initially be chosen large enough. The dimensions of the pot should be at least 60 cm deep and wide.

It is necessary to do a few additional big holes at the bottom of the container. The main enemy of olives is constant soil moisture. Therefore, to grow house tree Loamy or sandy soil should be prepared. Before the next watering, the soil should dry at least three centimeters deep.

Container olive is more demanding. For the full development of the indoor tree, it is necessary to regularly carry out gentle pruning. It is not recommended to allow thickening of the main branches. It is enough to leave no more than four main branches on the tree.

Major problems and pests

The evergreen tree is especially vulnerable to pests and diseases. The greatest danger to the plant is represented by black worms. Excessive use of chemical protective preparations is not in the best way affects the yield of olives. Therefore, it is desirable to support the immunity of the tree with organic and mineral means.

The tree has a low threshold of resistance to pests and diseases.

The culture is often damaged by whiteflies and olive moths. Outdoors, eaten buds and leaves indicate a colony of caterpillars.

Sudden wilting of branches and leaves is indicative of Verticillium wilt infection. fungal disease not amenable to treatment. If you do not save the evergreen tree in a timely manner from the affected areas, the plant will die. When infecting in an open area, a place for further planting of olives should be avoided.

Influence of culture

At proper care cultivating olives at home is not a problem. It is enough to provide the culture with full coverage and timely nutrition. In a few years, fragrant inflorescences and healthy olives will appear on the tree. A container plant is capable of producing about two kilograms of fruit.

Olive oil contains lecithin. An intolerance to an element causes an allergic reaction.
Allergies can also be cross-prone. People prone to reactions to lilacs, olives and jasmine of the genus Paniaceae react especially to olive oil.

Often the occurrence of a reaction is associated with a hereditary predisposition. It is advisable to use refined oil to reduce possible manifestations.

Olive propagation

An evergreen tree can be propagated by seeds and cuttings. The rudiments before sowing must be treated with an alkali solution. Softened shell guarantees better germination. For planting, a permeable substrate should be prepared. The mixture should contain leafy soil and coarse sand. You can also add crushed wood ash and broken bricks to the soil.

Sowing depth should not exceed three centimeters. It is important to constantly maintain the humidity of the substrate. Even freshly harvested seeds have less than fifty percent germination. The olive tree from seeds is characterized by late fruiting. The first inflorescences may appear only after 10 years. The tree can be used for grafting.

The oil tree can be propagated by seeds.

Cuttings will ensure the preservation of all maternal varietal characteristics. Fruiting will come in 2 years. Seedlings need to be placed in the soil under a slope. For creating greenhouse effect it is desirable to prepare polyethylene. The cuttings should be regularly aired and sprayed. After rooting, you can transplant the olives into separate pots.

Why the plant does not bloom

An evergreen tree will begin to bear fruit a few years after planting. The period of the first formation of fruits depends on the method of cultivation. Favorable conditions promote accelerated flowering.

There are varieties that, regardless of the propagation method and care conditions, will produce fruits only ten years after planting. It is recommended to clarify all the characteristics of the planting material before buying.

How to choose an olive

The plant is sold in the form of seeds and grown seedlings. The average price for a package of 5 small-leaved olive seeds is 132 rubles. A container olive 30 cm high can be bought for 1250 rubles.

Oliva is often grown not for its fruits, but because of its attractive, decorative look. To date, many varieties of this culture have been bred, each of which has its own characteristics. distinctive features. For growing in room conditions suitable varieties of olives, reaching no more than 2 m in height, suitable for growing in a container.

These include:

Photo gallery

To obtain edible fruits of high palatability, you should choose table varieties.

The indoor olive is an evergreen, miniature tree with a compact, spherical crown. The bark of young individuals is light gray, older ones are dark. The leaves are narrow, dense, lanceolate, dark green. They stay on the branches for a long time, not falling off even in winter. Gradually renewed every 2-3 years. The flowers are small, white, bisexual, with a goblet calyx. The fruits are one-seeded, elongated-oval drupes 0.7-3 cm long with a pointed or blunt end and a fleshy pericarp. The color of the fruit depends on the variety, it can vary from green to dark purple. The average weight of a nut is 15 g.

Indoor olive tree at home

The olive is propagated at home by seeds, cuttings, grafting. For decorative purposes, the tree is propagated by seeds. Before planting, they are stratified by soaking for 12-16 hours in a solution of caustic soda. After that, the seeds are rinsed and planted in a small pot with a diameter of 7-9 cm to a depth of 2 cm in moist nutrient soil. Sprouts will hatch in 2 months. During this period, you need to regularly care for the crops, monitor soil moisture, water as the earthen clod dries out, and prevent it from drying out or waterlogging. Germination of seeds of this plant is 40-50%. In some cases, the seeds do not germinate, or weak, non-viable sprouts appear, which soon die. Trees obtained in this way begin to bear fruit in 8-10 years. In order to speed up the period of flowering and fruiting, grown seedlings are grafted onto varietal plants.

When propagated by cuttings, the tree retains all maternal signs, the fruits appear 2-3 years after planting. To do this, take cuttings of 2-3-year-old branches. The sections are treated with a growth stimulator, then the cutting is buried in the sand to a depth of 10 cm, covered with glass or polyethylene on top to create a greenhouse. The optimum temperature for rooting is 25-27°C. Within a month, the plant will take root, shoots will begin to form. After 3-4 months, the root system will be fully formed, after which the seedling can be transplanted to a permanent place in a large one.

The houseplant olive is photophilous, so it should be grown in bright sunlight. South windows are suitable for young individuals, adult trees can be placed in a room in any bright place, or in a winter garden or greenhouse. In the warm season, it is useful to take the pot out to open air e.g. to the garden or balcony. An abundance of light is especially necessary during the period of tree growth and the formation of flower buds. With its lack, the growth of the olive will slow down, the shoots will begin to stretch in length. In winter, the tree needs to be provided with additional lighting in order to avoid leaf fall.

The most comfortable air temperature for this crop is 18-22°C. In the winter dormant period, the temperature should be 10-13 ° C. Wintering in such conditions will contribute to the laying of flower buds. The number of waterings at this time is reduced, top dressing is not applied.

Blooming olive: home care

Caring for the olive at home, it is important to monitor the condition of the earthy coma. Watering is carried out as the topsoil dries. The lack of moisture negatively affects the plant, the leaves fade, curl and fall off, which can lead to its death.

The olive tree at home tolerates dry air well, but in extreme heat it is necessary to spray the crown. Up to 4 years of age, an annual plant transplant is required. This work is carried out in early spring, changing upper layer soil to fresher and more fertile.

You can give the crown a neat, spherical shape using pruning. When forming, weak, dry branches are removed, too long shoots are shortened, and they are given the desired shape. If the tree is grown for nuts, it should be remembered that most of the crop is formed on last year's growth, so pruning in this case must be done very carefully.

Despite the rather laborious process of growing the olive, it is unpretentious, easily tolerates drought, and is not subject to invasion. By carrying out regular, proper care, already 2 years after planting, it will be possible to observe what a blooming olive looks like, and receive good harvest fruits (up to 2 kg of nuts per year).

The olive tree belongs to the olive family. In the Mediterranean, in the south of the Crimea, in the southern regions of Russia and in other areas with a mild climate, this plant is grown in open ground. In more severe conditions, you can grow it in a winter garden or in a spacious, bright room, including an apartment. Trees of table varieties, with proper care, will regularly bear fruit.

The olive tree is a long-lived tree. It has been growing for over 500 years. Olive trees grow in the Garden of Gethsemane (Jerusalem), which, according to scientists, are 2,000 years old. Greece is considered the birthplace of the olive. According to an ancient legend, the goddess Athena sent an olive branch to this fertile land, from which the first tree grew.

Olives are a real treasure for the human body. They contain more than 100 useful substances. It seems that nature itself took care of the health, freshness and beauty of man, giving him these priceless fruits.

Olives are the simplest and most effective prevention of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract and a malignant tumor of the breast. To achieve the desired effect, it is enough to eat only eight olives a day or season salads with olive oil.

Oliva is the personification of deep internal cultural ties. At least that's what Thomas Friedman thinks. He expressed his thoughts on globalization and cultural identity in his acclaimed book The Lexus and the Olive Tree, published in 1999.

decorative olive tree

Usually, the home olive is not grown for its fruit, but because of its decorative, very attractive appearance. Today, there are many varieties of this wonderful culture that have characteristics. For indoor cultivation, varieties that reach no more than 2 meters in height are suitable, which are suitable for growing in a container.

The olive tree at home is a miniature, evergreen with a spherical and compact crown. Young plants have a light gray bark, older ones have dark bark. The leaves are dense, narrow, lanceolate, dark green. They stay on the branches for a long time, do not fall off even in winter. They are updated every 2 years.

The flowers are white, small, bisexual, with a goblet calyx. The fruits are elongated oval one-seeded drupes, about three centimeters long, which have a pointed or blunt end and a fleshy pericarp. The color of the fruit may be green or dark purple, depending on the variety. Its average weight is 15 g.

Olive tree at home

Many are concerned about the question of whether this plant will take root in our apartments? Under natural conditions, the olive tree grows in semi-deserts, on rocky mountain slopes, and on saline and poor soils. Sometimes where no other plant can survive.

The olive tree appears silvery from a distance, because its dark green narrow leaves on the underside are covered with a bluish bloom. It is even sometimes mistaken for some kind of willow.

The drought resistance of the olive is striking. In this, perhaps, the date palm can be compared with it. Both of these trees love when their crown is warm and their roots are cool. In search of moisture, they direct their roots very deep, reaching ground water sometimes located at a depth of 5-7 meters.

Olive tree care

At home, this unpretentious plant does not require complex care. He needs a well-lit "place of residence", abundant watering during the period of active growth (March-August). In autumn, watering the olives is reduced, and in winter, when the plant seems to freeze, the soil in pots is moistened no more than twice a week.

reproduction

The homemade olive tree, which is easy to care for even for a beginner grower, is propagated by seeds, grafts and cuttings. To grow a tree solely for decorative purposes, the plant is propagated by seeds.

We prepare the seeds

This method is quite lengthy, but it allows you to see the entire development cycle of the tree and guarantees its high survival rate. Before planting, they are soaked for 12 hours in a solution of caustic soda. Then they are rinsed with water and planted in a pot with a diameter of no more than nine centimeters to a depth of two centimeters. The soil should be moist and nutritious. In addition, you should pay attention to the fact that the earth is loose, light. Such a mixture consists of leaf and sod land, sand, peat in equal volumes. Large, oblong-shaped olive seeds are planted in small (5 cm in diameter) pots no deeper than 1 centimeter.

You will see the first shoots in 2 months. At this time, you should carefully monitor the moisture content of the soil. It is recommended to water the crop as the clod of earth dries up and try not to allow it to become either waterlogged or dry out. Germination of seeds, as a rule, is 40-50%. Often, the seeds do not germinate or give non-viable, weak shoots that die after a short time. If we grow an olive tree from seeds, then the first fruits should not be expected until ten years later. If you want to speed up the timing of fruiting or flowering, grown seedlings must be grafted onto varietal plants.

Surprisingly, an olive tree at home can be grown even from a seed. True, to obtain a good result, it is necessary to carry out a long preparation process.

Reproduction by cuttings

In this case, the olive tree retains all the maternal characteristics. The first fruits appear in the third, in rare cases in the second year. It is necessary to take two or three summer branches. Their sections are carefully treated with a growth stimulator, then they are planted in sand ten centimeters deep, the seedlings are covered with glass on top (polyethylene can also be used for this purpose).

For rooting, the optimum temperature is 25-27 ° C. It usually occurs within a month, after which shoots begin to appear. After 3-4 months, the root system will be fully formed, and the seedling can be transplanted to its permanent place in a large pot.

Lighting

The olive tree, which is easy to care for at home, is very fond of good lighting, so south window sills are suitable for young plants. Mature trees can be placed in a room in any well-lit place.

In the warm season, it is useful to take the plant out into the air - into the garden or onto the balcony. An abundance of light is especially necessary during the period of plant growth and bud formation. If it is not enough, the olive will slow down the growth. AT winter time the tree needs additional lighting to prevent leaf fall.

The air should be heated to 18-22 ° C - this is the most comfortable for this crop. During the dormant period (in winter), the temperature should not exceed 13 ° C. Such conditions will contribute to the laying of flower buds. Watering during this period is reduced, fertilizing the soil is not recommended.

Blooming olive: care

During the flowering period, the plant needs more careful care. At this time, it is very important to monitor the condition of the soil. Watering is carried out as needed (when the top layer of the earth dries). If there is not enough moisture, the leaves of the plant fade, curl up, and then fall off. It can even lead to the death of the tree.

Slightly yellowish or completely white flowers with a delicate and refined aroma bloom in mid-June. At home, the tree is decorated with delicate flowers for several months. The plant is pollinated by wind and insects, but daily shaking of the branches is necessary for a home olive. When self-pollinated, fruits can be tied different size, and cross-pollination significantly improves their quality and yield

Despite the fact that the olive tolerates dry air well, we recommend spraying its crown in extreme heat. Until the age of four, the plant needs an annual transplant. This is usually done in early spring, and it is not necessary to change the entire contents of the pot, it is enough to replace only the topsoil with a more fertile and fresh one.

pruning

Regular pruning will help you give the crown of the olive a neat, spherical shape. Carrying out this procedure, remove dry and weak branches, shorten long shoots, create the desired shape. If you decide to grow an olive tree for fruit, remember that the bulk of the crop comes from last year's growth. Therefore, pruning must be done very carefully in order to next year you could rejoice in the harvest.

Despite the somewhat laborious growing process, the olive tree is unpretentious and not prone to diseases. With regular and proper care, two years after planting, you can admire the blooming olive and get a good harvest (up to 2 kg of fruit per year).

top dressing

During the active growth and development of the olive (February-October), regular (once every fifteen days) top dressing should be carried out with solutions and infusions of organic and mineral fertilizers. For better fruit set and development in summer time the introduction of double superphosphate is useful. For this, an aqueous solution of a substance is used at the rate of five grams per liter of water. In addition, it can be mullein - a two-week infusion, diluted 15-20 times before use.

From November to February, the olive tree, which is kept indoors, sharply slows down all metabolic processes, and it goes into a dormant state. In winter, top dressing is not carried out.

If you set out to grow a homemade olive tree, then you must remember that insufficient light, excessive watering and very high air temperatures in winter will not allow you to “tame” such a tree in your home. If you can overcome these obstacles, then you need to be patient, because compared to most plants that experienced growers know about, the olive develops very slowly, and it does not bloom too quickly. But lovers of indoor plants are attracted by the fact that you can grow it all your life - this small tree lives, according to scientists, for at least three thousand years.