How to Grow Olive
Olea europaea
Olive trees need full sun, excellent drainage, and a sheltered position in the UK. Grow in containers with gritty compost for easy overwintering, or plant against a warm south-facing wall. Water sparingly once established and feed in spring. Prune lightly in late spring to keep an open canopy. Wrap young or container trees with fleece during hard frosts. Fruiting is unreliable in the UK but the silvery foliage and Mediterranean character make olives a rewarding ornamental tree.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Spring with a balanced fertiliser. Container plants: liquid feed monthly during summer.
Watch For
- Scale insects
- Olive moth
- Peacock spot
- Frost damage
Companions
Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary
Track your Olive care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun essential; south-facing position ideal
Full sun is essential. In the UK, position against a south-facing wall or in the sunniest spot available. Container plants benefit from maximum light.
💧 Watering
Drought-tolerant; water containers in summer only
Water sparingly once established — olives are drought-tolerant. Container plants need regular watering in summer but must never sit in water. Reduce in winter.
🌱 Fertilizing
Spring feed; monthly liquid feed for containers
Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring. Container plants benefit from monthly liquid feeds during the growing season. Reduce feeding in winter.
✂️ Pruning
Late spring thinning; remove basal suckers
Prune in late spring to thin crowded branches and let light into the centre. Remove suckers from the base. Olives respond well to shaping.
❄️ Overwintering
Fleece in hard frost; shelter containers in winter
Wrap young or container-grown trees with horticultural fleece during hard frosts. Move pots to a sheltered spot or cold greenhouse over winter.
Growing Tips
Drainage is everything
Use gritty, free-draining compost for containers and never let pots sit in water.
Winter protection
Wrap young or container-grown trees with horticultural fleece during hard frosts and move pots to shelter.
Open the canopy
Thin crowded branches in late spring to let light into the centre and remove any basal suckers.
Manage peacock spot
Watch for peacock spot in wet weather; remove fallen leaves and keep the canopy open for airflow.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Scale Insects
Identification: Small brown or white waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew and sooty mould
- Wipe off with a damp cloth or scrub with a soft brush
- Spray with plant oil-based winter wash during dormancy
- Apply systemic insecticide containing acetamiprid in spring when crawlers are active
Pest Olive Moth
Identification: Small caterpillars boring into flower buds, fruit, or leaves; webbed leaves; damaged or hollow fruit
- Pick off and destroy affected fruit and webbed leaves
- Use pheromone traps to monitor adult moth activity
- Spray with pyrethrin-based insecticide if caterpillars are found
Pest Woolly Aphid
Identification: White fluffy waxy masses on stems and branches; sticky honeydew; sooty mould
- Scrub off with a stiff brush dipped in soapy water
- Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds and lacewings
- Spray with fatty acid-based insecticide for heavy infestations
Disease Peacock Spot Spilocaea oleaginea
Symptoms: Dark circular spots with yellow halos on upper leaf surfaces resembling peacock eyes; premature leaf drop; reduced vigour
Treatment: Remove and destroy fallen leaves; prune to improve air circulation through the canopy
Prevention: Ensure good airflow; avoid overhead watering; keep the canopy open with regular thinning
Disease Frost Damage
Symptoms: Blackened shoot tips and leaves after hard frost; bark splitting on young stems; dieback of branches in severe cases
Treatment: Wait until late spring to assess damage; prune out dead wood once new growth shows where the live wood is
Prevention: Wrap young trees with horticultural fleece in hard frost; move container plants to a sheltered spot; avoid exposed positions
Disease Root Rot Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Yellowing leaves, wilting despite wet soil, dark mushy roots; tree declines and may die
Treatment: Repot container plants into fresh, free-draining compost; trim away rotten roots; reduce watering
Prevention: Ensure excellent drainage; use gritty compost for containers; never let pots sit in water
Popular Varieties
Arbequina
A Spanish variety known for its hardiness and small, aromatic fruit used primarily for high-quality oil. Starts fruiting at a young age compared to other cultivars.
Kalamata
A famous Greek table olive with a distinct almond shape and deep purple colour. Harvested late to ensure the rich, fruity flavour develops fully.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 600 cm |
| Row spacing | 600 cm |
| Mature height | 500 cm |
| Mature spread | 400 cm |
Standard for traditional groves. High-density can be 150cm. Non-irrigated orchards need wider spacing (9m).
Log Olive in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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