olives

[Karen 16]

I have two small greenolive trees with quite a lot of fruit on them. How do I know when the olives are ready to pick and should i move them to my unheated greenhouse for overwintering?

[Two_Sheds]

I take it you're not in UK?

[DavidJP]

I should think it depends where you live and the local microclimate. A local national trust property has planted olive trees in the grounds and they seemed to have survived fine outside for the past few years with no obvious protection. Don't know what a really harsh winter would do though.

[smallblueplanet]

Our olive trees do fine outside over winter, just make sure their compost is free-draining, they hate damp soil.

[MaureenHall]

I've got 3 olive trees, one of which produced a fruit (yes, just 1) last year. It's in the chicken's bit of the garden and I don't give it any special attention. Maybe now the chooks are scratching around it and manuring it for me, I might get more next year.