Evergreen trees that will add a Mediterranean feel to your house and garden.
On receipt, remove the plant from the packaging and water if the compost is dry.
The olive can be grown outdoors during the summer and in all but the milder areas of the country will need the protection of a greenhouse or conservatory from autumn to spring. Best results will be obtained when grown at temperatures above 0ºC (32ºF). A few degrees of frost can be tolerated provided it is not prolonged.
In May, white flowers produce a lot of pollen, therefore, the plants should be kept away from expensive furniture in the conservatory. Once the danger of frost has passed, the plant can be hardened off and moved outdoors to a sunny spot on the patio.
Olives naturally shed their older leaves in spring as new growth begins.
Over the summer months green immature fruit will be produced but will not fully develop in our climate. A balanced liquid fertiliser should be applied at weekly intervals from April through to the end of August.
Before the first frost move the plant back under protection for the winter.
Re-pot the plant in spring using a John Innes number 3 potting compost adding 20% additional sharp sand or grit to improve drainage.
In early spring remove any dead, damaged and diseased shoots and trim to shape.