Olea europaea. A gnarled olive tree. A clambering grape vine. River rock. The only way to improve upon this garden picture is to plant one of the rustic Italian olive trees. Bay Flora is pleased to offer McEvoy Ranch Tuscan olive trees. These choice olive tree varieties have been organically grown and well trained for a perfect start, as can be seen from the photo, at left, of their growing grounds (click on it to enlarge). 36" trees (including pot) in 1-gallon containers. Each olive tree has been carefully pruned and shaped to create an even-branched, balanced canopy. McEvoy pruners remove the central leader of the single trunk trees to promote lateral growth as well as create easy access for harvesting. Full sun and good drainage required. Expect harvestable crops in about three years. The first fruits are almost all pit and no meat and it's best to remove them, although few people can bring themselves to do it. Olive trees bear their fruit on one year old shoots. To promote this growth, prune your trees in spring. You can pinch the branches of new trees or prune back branches of established trees. Olive trees won't bear fruit twice on the same wood, so remove bearing shoots from previous year each spring. In colder climates, grow olive trees in a pot that can be brought into a sun porch during the winter. Zones 9-10 outdoors, where trees grow to about 25 feet. Please read varietal descriptions for pollination requirements. Fruit injured at 26 degrees, tree injured at 16 degrees. A note on the olive fruit fly: it has established its nasty little self throughout California olive growing regions. You can control it organically by using Spinosad, but diligence is required. A second note: olives prefer dry conditions and are prone to fungal disease in areas of high humidity, such as most of the Southeast. Thomas Jefferson, a great gardener, had his heart broken over his olive trees' intransigent refusal to produce a harvestable crop at Monticello. The larger Frantoio organic olive trees are now available, after a very long and cold spring. The smaller Frantoio and Pendolino trees we're now offering are a great value. These are grown in 4" x 6" pots and are non-organic. These smaller trees are perfect for summer container fun--the possibilities are endless, and the trees will probably double in size by the end of the season. They've already reached 3' and are beginning to branch out. We also have some smaller non-organic Arbequina trees in 1 gal containers. These, too, have grown quickly and now in early July are approaching 3' tall as well. The Ascolanos will be ready by early August. Shipping charges are 25% for CA, 30% for OR and WA, and 35% to rest of U.S. Orders received by Fridays at 5 pm PST will be shipped the following Monday. Sorry, no shipping to AK,HI. |
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| Ascolano Olive Tree A vigorous and upright grower with slightly twisted and substantive green leaves, Ascolano is prized for the huge size and delicate taste of its olives. Since you can't get something for nothing, the downside is that Ascolano olives bruise easily and then you can't cure them. So harvest carefully. Fruit set is also fairly low. This is the only olive we offer that doesn't turn black when ripe. Also used to produce a light and delicate oil. Ascolano is the most cold hardy of the Tuscan cultivars. Not self-fertile. Compatible olive tree pollenizers include Frantoio, Leccino and Pendolino. TEMPORARILY SOLD OUT. | |
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| Coratina Olive Tree A very adaptable olive tree from Puglia, the oil has a strong peppery flavor from its high polyphenol levels. Coratina olive trees grow faster and more erect than others, with gray-green leaves. Excellent choice for hot climates. Compatible olive tree pollenizers include Frantoio and Leccino. | |
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| Frantoio Olive Tree The primary varietal used in Tuscan oil production, the Frantoio olive tree is useful to the home gardener as well. This olive tree is self-fertile, meaning it doesn't require another variety to set fruit, but is also an excellent pollenizer to other olive trees. The Frantoio olive tree grows in semi-pendulous fashion, with dark green-gray leaves. The fruit also makes a good table olive after curing, with a slightly nutty flavor to the medium-sized fruit. | |
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| Frantoio Small These smaller Frantoio trees are beginning to display their typical Frantoio traits. Self-fertile, just like their larger brethren. Please read varietal description above for more details. They'll grow quickly the first season into sturdy specimens. Perfect for container planting with silver thyme and oregano. About 2' tall, branches are beginning to develop. Non-organic. Grown in 4" x 6" pots. | |
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| Leccino Olive Tree Oil from this olive tree is more delicate than Frantoio, and the small to medium fruit is also used for table olives. The olives ripen into black ovals practically all at once, so be prepared. The Leccino olive tree (at left in photo) is a vigorous grower, with gray leaves and a graceful airy habit. Compatible olive tree pollenizers include Pendolino, Maurino and Frantoio. | |
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| Maurino Olive Tree An excellent choice for coastal areas, Maurino olive trees produce a peppery and fruity oil. This olive tree (at right in photo) is a compact grower, slightly weeping, with gray-green leaves. It needs pollenizers. Compatible olive tree pollenizers includ Pendolino, Leccino and Frantoio. | |
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| Pendolino Olive Tree This weeping olive tree is slow growing but well worth the wait. In fact, to see this olive tree in the gloaming, its narrow leaves backlit like slivers of a silver sun, is a heart-pounding experience. Pendolino olive trees are partially self-fertile, but you need pollenizers if you want a large fruit crop. Compatible olive tree pollenizers include Leccino and Maurino. Pendolino olive trees are used extensively as pollenizers in large olive tree groves. The fruit makes small but delicious green and black table olives as well. These trees are currently very attractive, so well-suited for potting up into terra cotta for special events. SOLD OUT UNTIL FALL 2008. | |
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| Pendolino Small Like the small Frantoio, the small Pendolino is trained to a stake to promote good growth habits. Trees are almost 3' tall and would be beautiful on any summer terrace in a terra cotta pot with silver dichondra trailing over the edge. Read a full description of this variety above. Non-organic. Grown in 4" x 6" pots. | |
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| Arbequina Olive Tree Arbequina olive trees hail from Catalonia, not Tuscany, but they share the same excellent rustic qualities of the above varieties, including high adaptability to different climates and soils. Used for both oil and table olives, the fruit is small and rounded. Crop matures into black olives over a few weeks, so you have time to pick them. Tree is weeping, fairly small, and self-fertile. One per customer, please. OUT OF STOCK UNTIL FALL 2008. | |
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| Arbequina Olive Tree Small These Arbequina trees are over 2' tall and are branching out. Some are flowering. Self-fertile, just like the larger Arbequinas. Non-organic, grown in 1 gal containers. | |
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