Re: Olive Tree (over winter)

 glasshousejohn@ntlworld.com says...

   It would help to know where you are or what your local conditions
are.

  My olive tree has lived outside in a pot, all year round for the past
8 years. When I got it, (raffle prize) it was a frail whippy stick about
a foot high and is now 3ft high and across, very healthy with a lovely
gnarled knobbly trunk.

It has never been cosseted or protected in any way : TBH that's  because
I fully expected it to die in its first winter. Last winter the temp  
went down to -6C and stayed below zero for days on end; the tree is also
wind rain and salt lashed. Tough as old boots !

    Janet  west Scotland

 On 2010-11-05 17:14:26 +0000, "John & Victoria"


Where do you live?  I ask because that will affect the advice you're
given.  If you're living in the further south west and balmy reaches of
Britian, your tree might need no help or protection at all.  OTOH, if
you live in a frosty area, it might need some horticultural fleece
wrapped round it and a drop of water now and then which drains freely
from its pot.  If you live in something resembling arctic tundra, it
will need taking into a just above freezing level environment with
plenty of light and the same water regime - i.e. almost none and good
drainage - water in the morning, not at night.   Purely as a matter of
curiosity - and please don't answer if this question is intrusive -
were you given any information/instructions/advice, when you bought it
and did you ask for any?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

 glasshousejohn@ntlworld.com says...


either a

     Should easily be mild enough there. Give it a sunny spot if you
can, especially in summer, to ripen up the wood and toughen it up; and
don't be tempted to over-feed it.

   Janet

 On 2010-11-06 09:14:14 +0000, "John & Victoria"


You can wrap it in horticultural fleece or old hemp sacking - don't use
plastic.  And if it's in a pot, make sure the pot doesn't freeze.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

 X-No-Archive:Yes


I have a tender plant in a pot that is now too big to move but would
not survive without protection.  The huge pot (the one the villagers
bought me, I posted a pic some time ago) is standing on 3 ceramic feet
which we bought from a garden centre, this ensures the pot does not
freeze to the ground and cracks.  I also wrap the pot.  Last year
despite all my care, i thought I had lost it and planted bedding
plants around the dead looking stems, which I cut down to soil level,
low and behold, during June new shoots appeared and now it is almost
back to the same size, time to get the protection out I think.