Olea europaea

Small white flowers appear in Spring - the warmer the climate, the earlier the flower buds appear.

Plant container plants in a sunny position, and keep the compost moist at all times. In order to flower and fruit, olives need a two month cold period of below 10 deg.C. They also need day and night fluctuation of temperature, so indoor plants are unlikely to flower or fruit.

Semi hard wood cuttings are taken from the current years growth from late summer to mid autumn the bottom of the cuttings is hard and soft on the top. With a sharp knife take a cutting of about 14 cms, remove lowest leaves, dip end into rooting hormone, and place round the edge of a pot filled with a suitable compost, water well, they must remain moist till rooted, place under glass but in semi shade.

Fill a seed tray with seed compost,water and allow to drain. Sprinkle seeds over the surface allowing roughly 25mm space between seeds and cover with a thin layer of compost. Put tray in a clear polythene bag and place on a windowsill. When seedlings show remove plastic bag. When the second pair of leaves appear on the seedlings thin out to 50mm spacing by removing the weakest looking plants. After 2 or 3 weeks and when danger of frost has passed plants can then be planted outside into required position.