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Re: Olives Everywhere

   Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 13:20:08 -0800
   From: nsterman@ucsd.edu (Nan Sterman)

   >I just bought a house in Oakland, Calif.  There is a strip of
   >land/grass between the sidewalk and the street (about 50 feet long but I
   >have to measure) and I want to put some trees there, including at least one
   >olive.  I grew up with an olive tree in my front yard (in San Diego) and it
   >was wonderful (and a great climbing tree too).

   Cyndi -- a caution:  Olive trees drop tremendous amounts of fruit that are
   round and squishy -- probably not suited for a sidewalk as 1) the olives
   make stains if that concerns you, and 2) they are hazardous to pedestrians.
   I've stepped on the little buggers before and it is not a pleasant
   experience, you sometimes end up on your rear end with an unsightly brown
   stain right on your --- well, you get the picture.  My parents always
   yelled at us not to track the olives into the house as they stain the
   carpet as well.  My recommendation is to plant it away from a sidewalk or
   any other walkway....

Thanks for the warning, Nan, it is something I have considered.  I would
still love to get answers to the rest of my questions from others
though...anyone grow olives or know about them?

Just how hard is it to keep the mess down?  They are only ripe for, what? 2
months?  So they'd only fall for that long or less?  I assume they sweep
away if neccessary.  And I do plan to pickle the olives.  How easy are they
to pick?  I mean, if I spend 30 mins a week (more some weeks, less some
others) for 2 months picking, will that take care of most of the fruit
drop?  Sunset guide recommends a drop cloth...I could pick it up every
couple of days and shake it into a container, no?  The planting strip is
wider than I thought...4 feet of depth to work with.

   Olivenhain, California

How appropriate :-).  But where is this?  I grew up in San Diego and lived
there later on too and have never heard of it.

Cyndi

_______________________________________________________________________________
Oakland, California            Zone 9 USDA; Zone 16 Sunset Western Garden Guide
Disabled, chemically sensitive, wheelchair user          Organic Gardening only
_______________________________________________________________________________
"There's nothing wrong with me.  Maybe there's                     Cyndi Norman
something wrong with the universe." (ST:TNG)                   cnorman@best.com
__________________________________________________ http://www.best.com/~cnorman
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