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Re: Planting olive trees



Carol:

You wrote -

>I have also thought about putting in an olive tree, with the intention of
>harvesting fruit.  I have read all the caveats about them being messy,
>etc., and have a place where this is will not be a problem.
>
>My questions are:
>What varieties are most fruitful?  How many years will I have to wait for a
>crop (depending on original age of plant)?   Are they best planted in the
>fall, or some other time of year?  I have never seen them in nurseries
>around the East Bay--any suggestions for sources?  I also need a type that
>won't get too large.  It will be a streetside planting; although I live in
>an area with no sidewalks, and no parking and most of the overhang will be
>over an ivy patch or over my own yard, I do have to consider overhead wires.
>

Our Men's Gqrden Club recently had Craig Makela, 7th generation owner of
the Santa Barbara Olive Co., Inc., P. O. Box 1570, Santa Ynez, CA 93460,
Phone 805-688-9917, Fax 805-686-1659.

He provided handouts describing the pluses and minuses of various olives.
For fruit he recommended Ascolano, Sevillano and Manzanillo in that order.
Manzanillo is the most common commercial tree, and is relatively low and
spreading. Fruiting is early and is rarely injured by frosts, but is
susceptible to cold injury. Mission is the best for colder climates and
older trees have been known to survive 8F (4.5C). But the fruit is small
and ripens late (October/November). The fruit is subject to frost damage.
Trees tend to be tall. For oil extraction he recommends Manzanillo and
Mission.

He also offers leaflets on harvesting and home curing both green and black
olives.


===================
Peter Worsley
-----------------
USDA Zone: 10 Mediterranean (dry in summer). Sunset zone: 24.
-----------------
e-mail: **worsley@silcom.com**
Voice: 805-967-9324  Fax: 805-967-2686
Worsley Gardens
910 Camino del Retiro,
Santa Barbara, California 93110-1005, USA
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