Olive 'Kalamata'
Olea europaea 'Kalamata'A very attractive and drought tolerant tree that produces everyones favourite pickling olive. Plump fruit must be hand picked for best presentation as they bruise easily, so growing at home is the best way to ensure you have high quality olives. Pick when purlpish-black, Kalamatas are not good green olives.
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Olive 'Kalamata'
Olives grow well in areas with hot dry summers and cold winters. They prefer a lime rich soil with a pH of 7 or above and require good drainage. Whilst often seen as a drought-resistant tree, olives do require adequate water at flowering and fruit set to ensure good crops. If they are not irrigated, they tend to form a biennial cropping pattern. With a shallow root system, olives prefer a weed-free area below their canopy to reduce competition for both water and nutrients. Fertilise in autumn and spring by spreading an application of well-rotted chicken or cow manure over the soil out to the canopy drip-line. Olive trees fruit best in an open vase shape and should be pruned accordingly. Leave three to four branches and always remove any water shoots on the inside and any suckers at the base.