- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Messages
- 5,192
- Location
- Bellmere, QLD
- Website
- www.selfsufficientme.com
- Climate
- Sub-Tropical
It has been 7 years since I planted my Manzanillo olive trees x 2 in my backyard and I can say with absolute excitement and relief one has finally got buds all over!
Over the years, I've been politely told by several people "olives won't fruit in a subtropical climate" but patiently I have maintained my faith that one day it would happen... YES!
We got one Manzanillo olive tree from a friend as a house warming present and I decided to buy a second one to have a pair. At the time, my research about growing olives in my area/climate found non-committal sketchy info stating Manzanillo olive trees have a better chance of fruiting in warm climates. I am yet to find or know of anyone who is successfully growing olives in my immediate area - Surely there must be someone?
Manzanillo olives have a medium to large type fruit which is appealing because a small olive with a large seed can be annoying.
I have 5 other olive trees Helena, Kalamata, and Arbequina. I planted the Helenas a few years after the Manzanillos and the Argequina have been in the ground for only about two years.
The Helena trees are original stock taken from mother plants on St Helena Island (directly off the eastern coast of Brisbane). I figured if they grew and fruited there only 45 kms south from my place then the chances are they will fruit here - they haven't yet and it's been 5 years. The trees are huge but...
The Kalamata olive tree I got on special from a nursery as it looked a little worse for wear. It's about 4 years old and is growing poorly and from what I have read will probably never fruit in my climate anyway. I'll give it until it dies or few more years before I yank it out.
The Argequina trees originated from Spain and are renowned as an early fruiting variety with the added claim or bonus of being very low chill meaning it doesn't need much of a cold winter to flower. I found this to be true with my two young Argequina flowering in the first year of planting (and flowering again this season). The only downfall is the relatively small size of the olive fruit but still it would have done if no other olive trees fruited, which I am pleased to say is not the case.
Anyway, my Manzanillo is flowering so I've got my fingers crossed the fruit will follow and be a nice big juicy size worthy of making my very own herb infused delicacy.
Over the years, I've been politely told by several people "olives won't fruit in a subtropical climate" but patiently I have maintained my faith that one day it would happen... YES!
We got one Manzanillo olive tree from a friend as a house warming present and I decided to buy a second one to have a pair. At the time, my research about growing olives in my area/climate found non-committal sketchy info stating Manzanillo olive trees have a better chance of fruiting in warm climates. I am yet to find or know of anyone who is successfully growing olives in my immediate area - Surely there must be someone?
Manzanillo Olive Buds 
Manzanillo olives have a medium to large type fruit which is appealing because a small olive with a large seed can be annoying.
I have 5 other olive trees Helena, Kalamata, and Arbequina. I planted the Helenas a few years after the Manzanillos and the Argequina have been in the ground for only about two years.
The Helena trees are original stock taken from mother plants on St Helena Island (directly off the eastern coast of Brisbane). I figured if they grew and fruited there only 45 kms south from my place then the chances are they will fruit here - they haven't yet and it's been 5 years. The trees are huge but...
The Kalamata olive tree I got on special from a nursery as it looked a little worse for wear. It's about 4 years old and is growing poorly and from what I have read will probably never fruit in my climate anyway. I'll give it until it dies or few more years before I yank it out.
The Argequina trees originated from Spain and are renowned as an early fruiting variety with the added claim or bonus of being very low chill meaning it doesn't need much of a cold winter to flower. I found this to be true with my two young Argequina flowering in the first year of planting (and flowering again this season). The only downfall is the relatively small size of the olive fruit but still it would have done if no other olive trees fruited, which I am pleased to say is not the case.
Anyway, my Manzanillo is flowering so I've got my fingers crossed the fruit will follow and be a nice big juicy size worthy of making my very own herb infused delicacy.
