Olea

The genus Olives (Olea) consists of about 40 species of evergreen trees and shrubs. The most common type is the European olive, or olive tree (Olea europaea). Its wild form often stands out sometimes in an independent form-Olea oleaster. The olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated plants, very long-lived-it lives up to 1000 years. In height, the trees can grow up to 20 m. They have thick twisted olive-green trunks, often swollen at the base, and strong roots located close to the surface. Flexible green branches; leaves opposite lanceolate leathery. Fragrant, but completely nondescript white flowers in axillary inflorescences. The fruit is a single-seeded drupe with an oily pulp, seeds with oily cotyledons. Their maturation occurs, depending on the climate, in the period from September to December. the fruit contains 50-70% of the oil known as olive, or Provence, which has long been used in medicine and perfumery. The fruits of some varieties are eaten. Varieties are mainly divided into 2 groups: table olive trees ('Ascolana', 'Spanish Beauty', 'Cerignola') and olive trees-oilseeds ('Coratino', 'Frantogno', 'Lechino', 'Tadjasca'). European olive oleaster (O. europaea oleaster) is a low (5-6 m) tree. The branches are prickly; the blackish-red fruits are very small. This species forms a lush growth at the base. White fragrant flowers of the laurel-leaved olive (O. laurifolia) bloom in spring. The warty olive (O. verrucosa) is characterized by grayish warty shoots and linear-lanceolate leaves.

The genus Olives (Olea) consists of about 40 species of evergreen trees and shrubs. The most common type is the European olive, or olive tree (Olea europaea). Its wild form often stands out sometimes in an independent form-Olea oleaster. The olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated plants, very long-lived-it lives up to 1000 years. In height, the trees can grow up to 20 m. They have thick twisted olive-green trunks, often swollen at the base, and strong roots located close to the surface. Flexible green branches; leaves opposite lanceolate leathery. Fragrant, but completely nondescript white flowers in axillary inflorescences. The fruit is a single-seeded drupe with an oily pulp, seeds with oily cotyledons. Their maturation occurs, depending on the climate, in the period from September to December. the fruit contains 50-70% of the oil known as olive, or Provence, which has long been used in medicine and perfumery. The fruits of some varieties are eaten. Varieties are mainly divided into 2 groups: table olive trees ('Ascolana', 'Spanish Beauty', 'Cerignola') and olive trees-oilseeds ('Coratino', 'Frantogno', 'Lechino', 'Tadjasca').

European olive oleaster (O. europaea oleaster) is a low (5-6 m) tree. The branches are prickly; the blackish-red fruits are very small. This species forms a lush growth at the base.

White fragrant flowers of the laurel-leaved olive (O. laurifolia) bloom in spring.

The warty olive (O. verrucosa) is characterized by grayish warty shoots and linear-lanceolate leaves.

Cultivation

Olive trees are grown in parks and gardens as ornamental plants in single plantings and small groups. Sometimes they are used to create hedges and forest protection strips. This plant is cultivated not only as a fruit plant, for the production of olives, but also as an oilseed crop. It is very common to grow small-sized plants in pots and in outdoor bonsai trees. Olive trees prefer fresh land with good drainage, although calcareous, dry, stony soils are also suitable. Before planting in a permanent place (in spring), it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers to the soil (manure) and mineral (water). When growing a plant in a pot, it is filled with a substrate consisting of 1/2 of the fertile land, 1/4 of peat and 1/4 of sand. Add organic fertilizers of 40-50 g per bucket of soil. Once every 20-30 days, they are fed with complex fertilizers (20 ml per bucket) with irrigation water.

Olive trees are grown in parks and gardens as ornamental plants in single plantings and small groups. Sometimes they are used to create hedges and forest protection strips. This plant is cultivated not only as a fruit plant, for the production of olives, but also as an oilseed crop. It is very common to grow small-sized plants in pots and in outdoor bonsai trees. Olive trees prefer fresh land with good drainage, although calcareous, dry, stony soils are also suitable. Before planting in a permanent place (in spring), it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers to the soil (manure) and mineral (water). When growing a plant in a pot, it is filled with a substrate consisting of 1/2 of the fertile land, 1/4 of peat and 1/4 of sand. Add organic fertilizers of 40-50 g per bucket of soil. Once every 20-30 days, they are fed with complex fertilizers (20 ml per bucket) with irrigation water.

Location

Olives need a place in the open sun, in colder climates - closed from the winds.

Temperature

It is not resistant to low air and soil temperatures, so it is suitable for growing in warm and hot climates.

Watering

Young plants, especially those grown from seed, are quite sensitive to the dryness of the soil, so during periods of prolonged drought, olives should be watered frequently.

Transplant

Transplanted in spring, once every 2-3 years, depending on the size of the plants, using the same soil as recommended for cultivation (see above), each time in a pot more spacious than the previous one. If the container is roomy, it is enough to replace the surface layer of earth in it.

Care

Remove dry and damaged branches, as well as thin out excessively thickened ones.

Reproduction

A common method of propagation of an olive tree is by ovules (the same as the ovule), swellings that usually form at the base of the plant, sometimes on the stem. They are separated and placed in the sand for the winter. In the spring, they are cut into several parts and planted in the open ground. Each of them develops several shoots. After 2 years, they are culled, leaving only the strongest ones. Planting in the ground is carried out after 5-6 years. In addition, you can use offspring that have formed their own root system. Today, especially in nurseries, cuttings are used for reproduction. Late summer take a part of the branch of the previous year with 3-4 internodes, and the upper node should be with leaves, treat with phytohormones that promote root formation, and place in the ground, which is a mixture of sand and agroperlite, until roots form on the cuttings. Then they are planted singly in pots and already on the 2nd year can be planted in a permanent place.

Diseases

Large olive worms sometimes cause significant damage to branches and leaves. This pest is controlled with the help of anticoccidal drugs. The larvae of the olive fly (Dacus oleae) damage the inflorescences. They are disposed of with appropriate insecticides. On plants affected by the fungal disease - peacock's eye, gray spots with a yellow border appear, first with a reddish, later with a brown center. The foliage is thinning and falling off. The scab of olives looks like mouth guards formed on the branches, gradually increasing in size, they cause the death of branches. Significant defeat by these the disease is very dangerous for the plant. These diseases are treated with copper-containing fungicides.

The most suitable for bonsai Mediterranean plants are very popular in outdoor bonsai plants. When growing an olive tree in bonsai with a twisted trunk, small leaves and its resistance to unfavorable growth conditions (little land, low humidity), excellent results are achieved. Like the original plant from which the "olive bonsai tree" is derived, it is not resistant to low temperatures, and in temperate and cold climates it should be kept indoors when the air temperature decreases below -8 °C. To get bonsai, you need very small plants; these are easier to get from seed.

The most suitable for bonsai

Mediterranean plants are very popular in outdoor bonsai plants. When growing an olive tree in bonsai with a twisted trunk, small leaves and its resistance to unfavorable growth conditions (little land, low humidity), excellent results are achieved. Like the original plant from which the "olive bonsai tree" is derived, it is not resistant to low temperatures, and in temperate and cold climates it should be kept indoors when the air temperature decreases below -8 °C. To get bonsai, you need very small plants; these are easier to get from seed.