Garden: Olive Tree

Back in the 1990s we lived in Plymouth in the south west of England, warm if somewhat wet, and we were pretty certain we could get an olive tree to grow, even if not fruit. We had visions of olive groves but for safety we kept our single plant in a pot should our coastal bit of Devon experience a rare cold snap.

Olives on the tree in August 2016, but will they ripen?

The tree, well small olive bush, moved with us up to Bedfordshire and then onto Oxfordshire, never out-growing or even really filling its pot. But finally its time had come, and in March 2010 we arrived in Hautes Pyrenees complete with the olive. The start of our grove, perhaps?

We planted it, rather naively assuming that this one was not a grower, and indeed, the first thing it did was drop all of its leaves and play dead, taking umbrage at the weather, no doubt!

We planted it up against a south facing wall and tucked it into the corner for shelter, and then a week later it snowed!

Now, in 2016, and after two years of failing to prune it in late spring as I should, it has totally obscured the study window, and it is a very good thing that we no longer use the satellite dish behind it!

Preparing for the chop, just enough to let some light back into the room. I'll risk losing the fruit on the branches that must go. They have never yet come to anything, anyway.

And after the event. The intention is to shape the tree around the window, neatly framing the view of the mountains from inside the room.

Next spring, at the proper time I'll complete the job. Now, will those olives ripen?