IN THE GARDEN

An olive tree’s chief requirement is well-drained soil with enough depth of soil for its roots to hold, even though an olive tree is predominantly a surface rooter.

Keep olive trees well mulched (with straw, decaying grass clippings, leaf mulch, even rocks) during hot, dry summers to keep moisture around the roots. For a productive life, olive trees need protection from winter winds. They quickly grow to four to five metres tall.

Most olives can survive frosts, occasional snowfalls and hot, dry summers, as long as there is regular rain or watering from mid-autumn through until mid-spring. There are varieties that do well in subtropical and warm, temperate areas. Olive trees can also be grown in large pots for a dramatic display, but they will produce only a modest crop.

Fragrant olive clusters appear in early summer after just three to four years. The berries fill out over summer. They can be harvested green by running your hands down the stems – but are easier to harvest when ripe and black, because they naturally fall off the tree.

In olive groves, sheets are spread under the trees and the branches are shaken with a mechanical gripper. For the home gardener, vigorously shaking the branches will release the ripe olives, allowing you to continue the ancient tradition of preserving olives at home.