Growing olives

[John in Andalucia]

A neighbour has several, large olive trees overhanging our garden on a lower terrace, so instead of "tutting" at the mess, I cleared them all up, cleaned them, and now olive trees have my interest. I read that seeds do not readily germinate. Is this true? Has anyone here tried germinating fresh olives?

[John Case]

John,

The problem with germinating olive seeds is that they do not grow true to type. The gentics of olives is pretty complicated and to boot, an olive female is very promiscuous. Many types of olive pollen can fertilize a flower and the seed will carry unknown parentage and not necessarily result in getting what you want. However, if you do not care what the olives taste like from you new tree, planting a seed is easy. They sprout easily and grow quickly. Make certain there is a lot of room for the tap root (it is not a palm). Once it survives in the pot for 2 or three years, it can be moved to the ground.

Most commercial olives (over 90%) are grafted onto rootstock from cuttings.

At least that's how its done in California.

You are lucky. You live in the heart of the Arbequina olive, one of the best tasting olives around.

Good luck!

A neighbour has several, large olive trees overhanging our garden on a lower terrace, so instead of "tutting" at the mess, I cleared them all up, cleaned them, and now olive trees have my interest. I read that seeds do not readily germinate. Is this true? Has anyone here tried germinating fresh olives?

[John in Andalucia]

Hi John,

Our part of Spain here on the coast, comprises mainly greenhouse farming, but not so far away, there are beautiful rolling hills of olive orchards resembling patchwork from a distance, with the most vibrant red soil. I'll be happy growing and selling them on as young trees one day.

[Tad]

havent tried from seeds, but am growing the k-18 variety from Israel like crazy from cuttings they grow super fast!!

[John in Andalucia]

Three months on, and germination in a box of olive seeds. These were kept outside, in the shade, between October and January. Average low of 7C/45F. I tried germinating a second box as per the rest of my palm seeds that receive heat, but with no results.