9263 Olive bushes in pots

[quote=Violetta;87146]...a friend suggested a small olive tree for year round colour. But do they grow in pots, will they quickly outgrow the pot, will they require full sun and a lot of looking after? Can they be pruned to remain small but bushy? Am not interested in the fruit incidentally tho' that'll be nice if it happens. Also, any chance of growing them on a partially covered loggia that gets perhaps only a few hours sun/day and could be classed as semi-inside?[/quote]
As far as light requirements are concerned, my partner's mother has had an olive tree in her shady garden a few kilometers south of Amsterdam for more than a decade and it's doing quite well. It's small compared to the ones on our farm in Abruzzo and she does only get a very few fruits on it, but it seems as healthy as any of ours. I recently came across a few unhappy looking olives in a seaside shopping precinct on the Dutch coast, but they were growing in containers placed in very dim conditions so I wasn't sure if their condition was due to lack of light or a poor watering regime.

I have no personal experience, but I suspect that probably the main challenge with growing an olive tree or bush in a container would be getting the watering right. I know they don't like their roots to be too wet, but I have no idea if they clearly signal when they're under stress due to lack of water. Since they are incredibly robust plants that can cope with very dry conditions, I'd guess that a container with drainage holes filled with not too-rich soil and a good soaking a couple times a month would be sufficient.

As for shape, olives don't naturally grow in the form of a tree (that's something created by humans), so you'd soon end up with an olive bush if you didn't prune it and remove base shoots. You're not concerned about fruiting, so I'm sure you could train it to just about any shape or size you wanted and it would survive.

Al

A small olive tree will grow in a pot in both Italy and England in my experience. Each year it will need a bigger pot and plant food in Spring. In winter you have to take care that the pot (even a large one) will not blow over or crack from frost. I am of the opinion that it is better to plant them in the ground as there are several other plants that will thrive better in pots and look lovely. Box is the obvious one, and it can stand some dryness. A bay tree, grown lollipop style, viburnum tinus, choisya ternata. All of these plants will stand outside all year round and don't need a lot of fuss.

Thank you very much indeed, I think I will give it a go, particularly note the watering element. Will be v careful. We already have a lovely collection of things in pots including several lollypop bays and a couple of small cypressi, which are due to be repotted asap. But I really love the slightly unruly shape of olive trees and have a corner that could accommodate one perfectly. I also very much like the colour of the leaves and feel they'll go beautifully against my ochre walls. Thanks again.

Olives also go very well against pale blue colours as they seem to shimmer in the heat and make the blue look like water.

[IMG]http://http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/album.php?albumid=20&pictureid=147[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/picture.php?albumid=20&pictureid=146[/IMG]

Not sure how this works, but am trying to attach photos of our rather splendid olive trees in pots. Ayway, they are in the photo album attached to my profile if you can't see them.

We have no problem growing them in pots, although obviously they do need some water and feeding.

-- was trying to attach two photos, but only one appeared. Sorry folks! --

I mentioned it on another thread, but Carrefour (locally anyway) have olives in pots at the moment: €18.99, smaller than the photo, obviously, but similarly straight trunked.

[quote=guyparry;87231][IMG]http://http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/album.php?albumid=20&pictureid=147[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/picture.php?albumid=20&pictureid=146[/IMG]

Not sure how this works, but am trying to attach photos of our rather splendid olive trees in pots. Ayway, they are in the photo album attached to my profile if you can't see them.

We have no problem growing them in pots, although obviously they do need some water and feeding.

-- was trying to attach two photos, but only one appeared. Sorry folks! --[/quote]

Hi,
I have just purchased an Olive tree - stands no more that about 15 inches high - and would like to keep inside if possible. I have a fairly large pot avaialble to put it into but dont know what soil/compost too use. could you possible advise.
Many thanks, John

John, olive trees need a neutral to slightly alkaline soil, but they are very tough plants in general. Purchase the soil from the local "vivaio" and they will be able to tell you which is the best to use. Olive trees need staking, particularly as young plants. Follow the advice given in this thread as a general guide. Careful when watering, particularly if you are keeping the olive tree inside.
Why don't you join our "Gardening" group which is open to anyone having an interest in plants and gardens?

I would like to echo Noble. We planted a small olive grove and we had one tree left over. I put this is a large pot. My Italian neighbours were horrified. They said it was not the place for an olive tree and that the roots would eventually crack the pot (large hand made teracotta, so they have a good point). And, I have to admit, all the trees planted in the ground have a much better look about them. I have attached a (not brilliant) photo.

Also, (echo, echo) there are other trees that look good in pots and I particlularly think orange and lemon trees look fantastic. Obviously nowhere near as hardy.

Hope this is helpful.

Many thanks for your reply - Sets me a bit of a delema really. I'll keep you posted. Kind regards, John

I wouldn't worry too much, John. If you like the idea, go ahead and do it. Olive trees are very tough and you can even train them into bonsais. I remember seeing a beautiful collection of olive trees in very large terracota pots in the internal courtyard of a property in Spain, in olive growing country, and they looked stunning. The owners assured me that they required very little care.