Olive trees thrive in climates with long, hot summers and short, cool winters. They require a two-month period of cool weather during which they must dormancy, with optimal temperatures falling between 40° F and 50° F. A tree that is not covered, however, can be harmed or even killed by severe winter temperatures .
Spring, when frost risk has passed, is the ideal time to plant. Only places where winter temperatures do not drop below 30° F should be used for fall planting because newly planted trees are vulnerable to frost damage during the first winter. Don't plant during the sweltering summer.
Most olive trees may produce both male and female blooms on the same tree because they are self-fertile. Planting a tree of a different species close by and allowing them to cross-pollinate, however, will frequently improve fruit harvests.
Olive trees are extremely drought tolerant once they are established, but you should water them frequently during the growing season, especially if you live in a hot, dry region, for good flowering and fruit development.
Olive trees don't require a lot of food, and too fertile soils may even reduce fruit output. Nonetheless, regular applications of a well-balanced fertiliser with a nitrogen level of at least 10% may be beneficial for trees grown in poor, mineral-deficient soils.
Olive trees react well to pruning, but whether your main objective is to increase fruit output or improve aesthetics will frequently determine the quantity of pruning and the techniques you apply. The Mediterranean Garden Society provides instructions on how to shape baby trees, revitalise elderly trees,
Depending on how you intend to utilise them, you can either harvest olives when they are still green or after they fully ripen in late fall. The majority of newly collected olives are extremely bitter, therefore they must be cured before consumption—either by brining or by sun drying..
Verticillium wilt, olive fruit flies, olive knots, and black scale should all be avoided. The most dangerous insect of fruit-bearing trees, the olive fruit fly, can entirely ruin an olive harvest by laying its eggs just under the fruit's skin.