Olive trees planted outdoors are a rare sight in Germany - for good reason, because the German winter is simply too frosty for the Mediterranean plant. In regions with a milder climate, however, free-range farming is quite possible.
Choose the right location
In the harsh north of Germany or in the cold Alpine region, an olive tree planted in the garden will most likely not feel particularly well and will die after a cold winter. Only in some wine-growing regions (e.g. on the Moselle or in the Rheingau) are the climatic conditions mild enough to dare such an attempt. However, before you start planting, you should first choose the right location.
- Olives need a lot of space: you should keep a distance of at least seven meters to the nearest plantings
- the roots should also always be kept free of vegetation
- Olives need a location that is as full of sun as possible and sheltered from the wind (no draughts!)
Choosing the right variety
Also, not every olive variety is suitable for planting in German gardens. It is advisable to use robust and hardy varieties that have also grown in a similarly harsh climate. Olive trees from Spain or southern Italy are not suitable because they are not hardy enough. However, through years of habituation, you can train your olive tree to be more hardy. Only young trees should not be planted out yet, as they are much more sensitive than older specimens.
Olive varieties suitable for planting
- Leccino (Italy)
- Coratina (Italy)
- Ascolana (Italy)
- Aglandaou (France)
- Arbequina (France)
- Bouteillan (France)
- or Picual (Spain)
Plant olive tree
For planting out, you should dig a large planting hole at the selected spot, which is about twice as deep as the root ball and also at least a third wider. For adequate drainage, pebbles or shards of clay can be used as the bottom layer, these are intended to prevent waterlogging. If you have a rather loose, sandy soil from the outset, this measure is not necessary. However, if your soil conditions are not optimal, enlarge the planting hole and fill it with a suitable substrate mixture (sand and commercially available potting soil in a ratio of 1:1). The root ball should be completely covered by soil, and a support for the tree in the form of a stick is advisable. After planting, water your tree vigorously so that it grows more easily.
tips and tricks
Planted olive trees do not need to be watered - in contrast to potted plants - because the plants get enough water from rain and moisture in the soil. Additional watering is only necessary in very dry periods.