Growing olive trees.

[cfkingfish]

I remember when I visited Greece in the summer of 1996 I passed through what I was told was the largest olive vinyard in the world. It was olive trees for miles - it was halfway between Patras and Delphi by road, and they had free olives for the sampling. I ate myself sick but it was worth it.

I have never seen an olive tree or hear of anyone growing these anywhere besides South France, Italy, and Greece. Does anyone on this board grow edlible olives?

[epicure3]

I personally don't but hey are very prevalent here in Southern California. Many different varieties I believe. Most people opt for the non fruiting kind as fruit drop (or veg drop...whatever) can be very annoying for those who can't consume that many martinis in one day.

[DoomsDave]

An EXCELLENT QUESTION!

Here in Cali, olive's grow like the population, a lot, and easy.  

Bet you'll get more answers to the question:  "What spray do you use to stop your olives from bearing?"

Seriously.

They make a mess, like much of what is lovely . . . .

dave

[Neofolis]

Oloe europea is grown by quite a few people in this country.  My mum has an Isreali olive tree, but she didn't the botanical name.

Isn't it an Olive Grove, rather than an Olive vinyard.  Greece certainly produces the best olive oil, although I usually use oilve oil from Tuscany, Northern Italy.

[cfkingfish]

I am wondering if one will grow well and bear fruit in South Florida. I always thought it would be too humid for them, similar to getting edible dates from P. dactylifera here.

[Alan_Tampa]

Christian.

Downtown Sarasota has them along one of one way deal, Pineapple, or Orange Ave.  Down that one main street with the oddball shops and whatnot, near Kress Plaza.  (If that is still there)  Also by the Purple Cow.

I think some flowering and a fruit or two made an appearance at some time.

Alan

[cfkingfish]

Alan-

Very interesting. I may have to try a few myself. Did you say you made it down to Sarasota occasionally? I can make the drive up there if you want to meet at Selby sometime, or go out to Old Miakka.  :cool:

[Alan_Tampa]

Christian,

I grew up in Sarasota so know the area pretty well, or did before people with more money than brains started buying everything cool and making it yuppy and ruining it.  Siesta Key was empty in Summer and normal broke-asses live there.  Except for a few holdouts (my Great Aunt and Uncle are hanging in) the place is just not the same anymore.  

A few years back, 1993-1994 maybe my potato cannon pissed off some woman who was an "actress" on Baywatch (I guess, that's what she said anyway) because the noise of the 8 foot barrel was too much for her and her doofus boyfriend.  This jerk tried to say that it was illegal to use the potato (or eggs!) cannon in the area as it is a bird sanctuary.  I said, from the dock, "Go eat a turd."  The dude threatened to call the cops and tried to act like my cannon would be cause for arrest, until I said that the joint he was toking would probably be a bigger issue than my homemade spud launcher.  They went inside.

They moved away after a short time.  Tried to give my Aunt some flowers or something like they would miss the neighborhood.  My Aunt told her she shouldn't worry about the neighborhood missing her!  

Anyway, yes we should meet up at sometime and scout about for palms and the like.  

Alan

[Bilbo]

It is indeed an Olive Grove Corey, and they dont grow well in a US climate.

They did try it many years (100?) ago in US and it failed completely.

It seems that the Med. climate is indeed the best.

Regardez

Jon

[Cikas]

I remember when I visited Greece in the summer of 1996 I passed through what I was told was the largest olive vinyard in the world. It was olive trees for miles - it was halfway between Patras and Delphi by road, and they had free olives for the sampling. I ate myself sick but it was worth it.

I have never seen an olive tree or hear of anyone growing these anywhere besides South France, Italy, and Greece. Does anyone on this board grow edlible olives?

Olives are common in Croatia ( Dalmatia and Istria regions ).

Here in Dubrovnik, I have many of them.

And we make olive oil.

Edited December 21, 2014 by Cikas

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

These comments crack me up.

Here in The San Joaquin Valley , olives are grown in abundance.....something like over 20,000 acres!

California olive oil is the best in the world.!

Imo

http://calolive.org/our-story/about-olive-industry/

[dalmatiansoap]

What you have for sure is largest industry production but we can't discuss Olive Oil quality on this level.

[Pip]

Olives are weeds in Adelaide. I have a strong dislike for the plant. I constantly find new saplings emerging in my garden and any bare piece of soil from the coast to the hills and beyond. I don't have an issue with maintained olive groves as the products produced are fantastic. Neglected olive trees in home gardens on the other add to the weed problem as the trees are very productive with absolutely no care. Which is the main problem once the tree becomes productive in the wild.

I do enjoy watching the Gallah's (pink and grey parrots) eat the fallen fruit from the big tree across the street from my house. Those birds are very entertaining.

[John Case]

I have a small Arbeqina Olive in a pot,...it went dry for almost a year while I was getting the knee replacement. I thought it was dead when I started watering it again.....it came back.....amazing.

[_Keith]

An EXCELLENT QUESTION!

Here in Cali, olive's grow like the population, a lot, and easy.

Bet you'll get more answers to the question: "What spray do you use to stop your olives from bearing?"

Seriously.

They make a mess, like much of what is lovely . . . .

dave

I recommend chainsaw oil bar oil spray. Not only works on Olives but just about everything else