The beautiful, rustic olive trees from Tuscany, Piedmont or other typical growing areas are usually many centuries, even thousands of years old. Until you own such a gnarled tree yourself, you will have to have a little patience - but in any case you will be able to leave a very special inheritance to your children and / or grandchildren. In this article we will show you how you can grow an olive tree yourself.
How can I grow an olive tree from a seed?
To grow an olive tree yourself, you need germinable seeds from fully ripe, unprocessed black olives. Remove the pulp, soak the core, score it and plant it in potting soil. At 20-25°C and plenty of light, the seeds germinate within 4-12 weeks.
Seed selection
First of all, you need the right seeds. Olives are stone fruits and, like cherries or plums, have a seed core surrounded by pulp. However, you can't just go to the supermarket and buy pitted olives there to then use them as a base for your own olive cultivation, but you usually have to order the seeds from specialist retailers or online (€6.00 on Amazon). Olives available in Germany are usually pickled or otherwise processed, which is why their pit is no longer capable of germinating.
How to Choose Good Olives for Seed
You can find germinable seeds in
- full tires, i.e. H. black olives
- that are as fresh as possible and not processed
- the fruits should not have any damaged areas
Another option would be to travel to the olive-growing areas during harvest time and bring back fresh, fully ripe olives from there.
Treat the seed core properly
Once you have a seed, you first have to free it from the surrounding pulp. Then rinse it carefully under running lukewarm water and rub off the remaining pulp. First soak dried seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours, changing the water several times. Now you can carefully score or file the seeds, this will speed up germination.
Planting the seed core
Now place the pre-treated seed core in potting soil that is as germ-free as possible. The tip of the core should look upwards. Cover it loosely with about 1/2 to an inch of soil and keep it moist – but not wet! The pot should be in a location that is as bright and warm as possible – around 20 to 25 °C. Germination occurs within four to twelve weeks. The seedling must be as bright as possible, otherwise its shoots will become too long and thin. You only have to repot the young plant when the soil in the growing pot is already well rooted. Only fertilize them with a little liquid fertilizer when they are around three to four months old, but with a maximum of a quarter of the usual dosage.
Tips & Tricks
Young olives also need a lot of air and a lot of light. It is therefore best to grow the young plants in spring and then place them in a protected place outside from June / July. A semi-shady location is ideal so that the olives can slowly get used to the sun.
