Check back with me in late summer, when ripe tomatoes are coming on and the dahlias and zinnias are in full glory, but right now, spring in Oregon is biblical.
Rhodies, irises, and lilacs--SO beautiful this time of year. But the olive!? Do you have to bring it inside during cold spells, or is it planted in soil and has survived that many winters? I'm intrigued.
Hi Christine - It’s planted in the ground. It nearly froze to death the first winter it was in the yard, but I think it has adapted and has come through some extended freezes with no harm. I do think it’s happy where it’s planted and is somewhat sheltered by the other bushes. And I pile wood chips around the base, which may protect it a bit as well. We got it at Red Ridge Farms in the Dayton, Ore., area, which has a commercial olive oil operation.
Very interesting. Maybe I'll try growing one. We've loved seeing the olive trees in Spain, Italy, and Greece, but hadn't imagined being able to keep one outside in the Pacific Northwest. Thank you for the tips!
You’re welcome! It’s been fun to track the olive tree. For several years it did nothing, then spent a few years making buds that fizzled out before turning into olives. Then, two summers ago, it produced maybe a half dozen actual olives. Summer of ‘24 it produced three dozen or so, small but excellent taste after the simple brining. We only have one tree so it must be self-pollinating. I admit being a nerd for this kind of stuff: Oregon State University’s Small Farms Program has an ongoing olive research program: https://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/olive-research-oregon
Very cool. I'll check out the OSU link as well as the olive farm--and practice my patience in waiting. Will be fun to try growing one. Thank you again for the advice!
Your flowers give joy. We need more of that.
Rhodies, irises, and lilacs--SO beautiful this time of year. But the olive!? Do you have to bring it inside during cold spells, or is it planted in soil and has survived that many winters? I'm intrigued.
Hi Christine - It’s planted in the ground. It nearly froze to death the first winter it was in the yard, but I think it has adapted and has come through some extended freezes with no harm. I do think it’s happy where it’s planted and is somewhat sheltered by the other bushes. And I pile wood chips around the base, which may protect it a bit as well. We got it at Red Ridge Farms in the Dayton, Ore., area, which has a commercial olive oil operation.
Very interesting. Maybe I'll try growing one. We've loved seeing the olive trees in Spain, Italy, and Greece, but hadn't imagined being able to keep one outside in the Pacific Northwest. Thank you for the tips!
You’re welcome! It’s been fun to track the olive tree. For several years it did nothing, then spent a few years making buds that fizzled out before turning into olives. Then, two summers ago, it produced maybe a half dozen actual olives. Summer of ‘24 it produced three dozen or so, small but excellent taste after the simple brining. We only have one tree so it must be self-pollinating. I admit being a nerd for this kind of stuff: Oregon State University’s Small Farms Program has an ongoing olive research program: https://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/olive-research-oregon
Very cool. I'll check out the OSU link as well as the olive farm--and practice my patience in waiting. Will be fun to try growing one. Thank you again for the advice!