[Familyofmonkeys]

Anyone got any experience growing olive trees in NZ? Are they easy to grow...how many years before you get fruit?

[swissmissdesigner]

I know a guy in Russell, he is growing oilive trees. The clime is OK there, but the trees still grow to slow.( I guess they get too much rain water)

[Xaviera]

I don't know anything about olives but certainly the one we have (in Napier) grows well without any special attention. It produces a lot of fruit also which the birds seem to be partial to!

[Moorf]

It depends on where in NZ you want to grow them! We've got a couple in our garden (55km inland from Chch) and they had done nothing in 2 yrs, whereas friends have a few acres of them near Chch and they've had a few bottles of oil pressed!

[Familyofmonkeys]

It depends on where in NZ you want to grow them! We've got a couple in our garden (55km inland from Chch) and they had done nothing in 2 yrs, whereas friends have a few acres of them near Chch and they've had a few bottles of oil pressed!

Better plan to start with one then, and see what happens!

[Nick88]

We live near people that have about 100, and grow them for oil. Last year they got 14 litres after about 5 years growth. They are a pig to pick, and the pruning has to done just right or you get no crop next year (they naturally tend to crop biennially). In terms of hard work/ low returns things to grow they come second only to macadamias. Sorry.

The only people that make much money from them are the ones that press and market the oil.

[asterix]

Hi
I believe that olive trees take about five years to grow before you get any fruit. In Northland I heard of someone planting a species of olive trees, which were unsuitable for the climate and type of soil. Afraid I don't know much more than that!

[tigerlily]

I think Waikeke Island has a commercial olive operation, so that climate must be ok.

[andrewandjane]

yeah theres a few commercial growers here on waiheke, and theres some olive trees outside the supermarket that had loads on.

[Lupin]

Here in Hawkes Bay we're surrounded by them. I love olive trees :)

[Marie P]

Hi

We planted 2 olive trees last Feb ,they have grown a little ,we will see what happens this summer.[We have awful clay soil though ]

Marie x

[swissmissdesigner]

Here in Hawkes Bay we're surrounded by them. I love olive trees :)

mee too in Italy and Greece!

[Lupin]

mee too in Italy and Greece!

*That's* why I love them- in summer with the brown landscape, the clear blue sea and the noise of the cicadas and the summer heat, it feels a lot like Greece :)

[Familyofmonkeys]

We live near people that have about 100, and grow them for oil. Last year they got 14 litres after about 5 years growth. They are a pig to pick, and the pruning has to done just right or you get no crop next year (they naturally tend to crop biennially). In terms of hard work/ low returns things to grow they come second only to macadamias. Sorry.

The only people that make much money from them are the ones that press and market the oil.

Don't want to make money, but as we eat so many olives, I was wondering about growing and pickling our own. Looks like further research needed for me :)