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Olive tree

pokhimpokhim Posts: 210
in Plants

Bought this olive tree which you can see in the picture. My wife bought a really tall pot for it, which is totally unsuitable as it makes the tree super high!!!

I am hoping to source a nice (cheap) terracotta pot from somewhere. But my question is; Do i need a certain sized pot, and how do I plant it i.e. does it require v.good drainage or special compost etc..?

thanks

image

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Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,771

    It actually looks lovely. You need a pot at least 60cm diameter by 60cm depth and you should use a compost with John Innes Number 3 with added horticultural grit - about 80%-20%. In a pot it will need to be overwintered in a cold greenhouse as the roots are less protected in a pot than they would be if in the ground.

    Last edited: 05 August 2016 09:52:56

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,959

    I've had my olive in a pot outside for about 10-12 yrs now and it's never come to any harm over winter.
    I guess it depends what your winter weather is like. I'm in Essex.

    Agree with pansy re the pot and compost - mine is in a 60cm pot with JI

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,771

    Don't make me jealous Pete8! Oh and its Ladybird4 not pansy image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • pokhimpokhim Posts: 210

    60cm in depth?!! That is soo high!!. .That will make my tree very high indeed!!

    I kind of like the height that it is currently... 

    Can i not put it into a 45cm deep pot instead?..

  • pokhimpokhim Posts: 210
    Verdun says:

    Pokhim, hey!  Looking good there image

    we grow olives down here, everywhere.  The local town features them throughout.  Totally, totally hardy.

    very good drainage and as warm a spot as possible.

    i would go for as big a pot as possible to then grow a cascading perennial with it.  Something like a lithodora, arabis, convolvulous maritima, campanula, etc., but a hardy osteospermum....white to echo your hydrangeas ......would be my choice

    See original post

    I def like the idea of cascading perennial. Thanks for the tip on this.

    I can go for a 60cm wide pot and will look for something quite deep..but not sure 60cm deep is too much. I will check tonight to see...

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,959
    Ladybird4 says:

    Don't make me jealous Pete8! Oh and its Ladybird4 not pansy image

    See original post

     Sorry Ladybird - It's my age.... image

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,726

    Pokhim image  Whereabouts are you?  I think that sometimes Verdun forgets that not everyone gardens in balmy Cornwall (and yes, we are all jealous image)  

    Here in Norfolk I'd be a little more careful of a potted olive tree - keep the (free-draining) compost as dry as possible - they can cope with the cold but cold and wet combined will cause problems.  

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • pokhimpokhim Posts: 210

    Leyton, East London. It's reasonable weather and my garden is south facing. I have a nice shelterd spot to put it during the winter though,

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