Olea europaea Olives

Planting position: Full sun Spacing of 2,5m.
Requires regular summer- and autumn watering Well-draining, compost-enriched soil and generous layers of mulching, also incorporate superphosphate to root level. Cut the tree, after planting, back to 60cm, leaving four side shoots Propagate from seed is not advisable, rather purchase a tree from a reputable nursery.
Fertilising programme: late winter- and mid-summer applications of complete fertiliser.
Harvesting is done when the not-too-soft fruit is well-coloured, or when fruit turns pale yellow (for green pickles).
Pests, diseases and their cures: Brown olive scale - apply mercaptothion and mineral oil.

These commercially grown trees provide aesthetic pleasure, shade and its fruit. The olives are eaten or used to extract oil from. Olives for eating is usually pickled in brine.