This article will lead you in the right direction and give you an insight into producing a healthy and thriving fruit tree. Well suited for indoor planting, the 'Arbequina' olive tree does wonderfully well in an indoor climate that receives four to eight hours of full to partial sunlight. The tree can be returned outdoors once the frost passes. Stop feeding in late summer so as not to encourage new growth. The Arbequina olive tree comes from Arbeca, Spain. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Always check the moisture level of the sand mixture when misting. Feel free to share your Arbequina olive tree growing experience with us by leaving your comments below. They are self-pollinating and will yield fruit with just one, but planting a second will boost their yield. Spread a layer of organic mulch (around 4 inches deep) over the root but avoid piling up the mulch against the trunk. During the planting time, avoid adding fertilizer as this will burn the young tree. Only add water to the mix when it feels dry on the top. Arbequina olive trees thrive in full sunlight, when they receive at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. As long as you grow the tree under optimal conditions, expect to harvest some tasty olives within 2-3 years! It should be a quarter of an inch in diameter, ideally below a leaf node. Your Arbequina olive tree will start producing fruit within 2-4 years of planting. If grown indoors, place the potted tree in a room where it can get plenty of natural light throughout the day. Remove the outgrown branches starting from the foot of the tree or along its trunk. The earliest time you can harvest is in November. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. The pot must have large drainage holes. Arbequina olive trees should be planted in early spring or fall. Newly planted Arbequina requires watering regularly to help establish a deep and healthy root system. USDA Hardiness Zones indicate the regions where different types of plants thrive across the country based on minimum relative winter temperatures. If planted in a container, they can remain outside in Zones 4-7 until winter, when they should be brought inside. Thus, regularly watch the leaves of the Arbequina olive tree for signs of iron and zinc deficiency. A porch is a suitable place to keep the potted Arbequina indoors during winter. If growing the olive tree outdoors, it requires a minimum of 6-8 hours of sunshine a day. These threes are able to tolerate a wide variety of soil, but they prefer well-draining, alkaline soil. With its evergreen foliage and quick growth habit, this olive tree can easily be grown in the backyard or in a container. Mulching is another effective way of preventing weed growth. To produce olives, the tree requires at least 300 hours of 45 degrees fahrenheit or higher. When planting outside, choose a site that receives full sun (at least 6 hours) and has good soil drainage. The infected olive tree must be treated with an insecticide annually. Arbequina olives are small, fleshy, and meaty, with small pits. They grow to be 15-20 feet tall at maturity with an 8-12-foot-spread. Pull out the weed by hand or use a hoe. If you decide to prune, do so at the leaf nodes at the end of winter but before the tree has started flowering. Though the Arbequina Olive Tree can be planted outside, it's usually best suited for indoor growth. If you choose to plant more than one, make sure they are 8-12 feet apart from each other, measuring from their trunks. Never allow the fertilizer to come in contact with the tree’s trunk as it may burn or kill it. It takes as little as 2 to 3 weeks for your olive tree cutting to root. Most olive growers prefer to grow Arbequina from branch cuttings. If you’ve planted your olive tree outside, remove weeds from around the base of the baby tree to ensure optimal growth. Get an 8-inch nursery pot and fill it with a mix of half milled peat and half-washed sand. Trees.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You should only fertilize your tree once it has passed its first year. Arbequina olive trees are low-maintenance, able to tolerate many different soil types, a range of sunlight, and able to withstand temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Arbequina olive trees are low-maintenance, producing bumper crops of antioxidant-rich, versatile black olives as early as their second year after planting. Never prune the tree in winter or during a cold spell as this can kill your Arbequina. To boost your crop, feed your tree twice a year, in spring and fall, with a slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Top-dress the soil around the olive tree with a 3-inch layer of mulch. Water the Arbequina deeply -- to a depth of 10 inches -- once a month during the summer. Trim any major branches that have caused a silhouette of the tree. If you choose to plant your Arbequina olive tree in a container, choose a pot that has drainage holes for watering and that is 1.5-2 times the width of the container your tree arrived in. Arbequina olive trees prefer light pruning. Learn more. Step 5. Tree: weeping branches with silverish-green leaves. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com. The experts at This Old House explains how to choose the best gas fireplace for your home and how much it’ll cost. Make sure the sandy mix is firmly against the stem. Dig a hole twice as wide as the pot and the same depth. If planted outdoors, Arbequina olive trees flourish in Zones 8-10. Arbequina olives do not all ripen at once. Important: don’t bury the plant deeper than it was in the container. You must bring them back inside from October until the end of spring. You may need to water the potting medium daily. Arbequina Olive Trees - Care, Propagation, and Harvesting Tips, Characteristics of Arbequina Olive Tree at a Glance, Best Christmas Tree Farms in North Hampton, NH, Growing Zone Map - Find Your Plant Hardiness Zone, How to Grow and Care For Meyer Lemon Trees, 5 Amazing Types of Broccoli You Can Grow In Your Garden Today, Regularly weekly and more frequently in extreme heat, Mediterranean climates/ long hot summers and cool winters, Olive fruit fly, peacock spot, Cercospora leaf. All you need is a sunny window for your Arbequina to thrive. Arbequina olive trees have weeping branches with shiny, silvery-green leaves that retain their color year-round in warm climates. The preference is for at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day. Once your olive tree has matured, it becomes very drought tolerant, thus requiring about an inch of water every 10 days in spring and summer only. There are many reasons for the yellow leaves appearing on your olive tree. Weed: baby olive trees are highly sensitive to weed. A full-canopy spray is required after harvest plus a second application in mid-winter. This can be done in summer once the tree is more than halfway through the growing season. Skin color: the skin is black once the fruit reaches maturity. Their small, fleshy olives emerge green before transitioning to a light pink, then ultimately turn glossy black when they’ve ripened on the tree and are ready to be harvested. Be sure to allow the potting soil to dry out between waterings. This should be done during the growing season using a slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Now remove the branches that have grown upwards, inwards or are crossing each other.