Another olive (yeah, I got one too)

coh

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I've long admired olives from afar. Until recently I wasn't aware of anyone growing them around here. Then one showed up at Bill's place and I've been able to watch it develop over the past few years. Was also very impressed by a bunch of them at the last National Show. @Adair M in particular had a couple of nice ones - a huge monster that I think he sold (or maybe traded), and a shohin one that might be similar in size to this one. So I figured I'd get a small relatively cheap one and see how it does in this climate. I don't have a greenhouse for wintering so it will either need to spend the winter under lights or in a cool window.

Got it from a guy who sells them on ebay. He typically has dozens of them available, this was one of the smallest. I got it late last summer, kept it under MH lighting this winter. It grew through the winter but very slowly. Repotted it in May when it was growing slowly. Since then we've had a pretty sunny/hot summer by Rochester standards and it has been growing well. I just did some pruning and wiring about a week ago. Wiring is quite tricky because there really isn't much to anchor to, so I've had to be creative. It don't look great but seems to get the job done.

Since this is just an experimental piece I won't be doing anything fancy with it - just aiming for a basic shape like in the second image. Most likely the shoots growing on the front will be removed. There is an area of deadwood at the top (bright area) that could be carved down the road.

Particularly interested in any thoughts/advice from the olive master @Adair M :)

Current image after some pruning/wiring

olive_july2020.jpg

Current thinking on future structure of canopy

olive_july2020v01.jpg
 

Adair M

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Join the crowd, right?

I've long admired olives from afar. Until recently I wasn't aware of anyone growing them around here. Then one showed up at Bill's place and I've been able to watch it develop over the past few years. Was also very impressed by a bunch of them at the last National Show. @Adair M in particular had a couple of nice ones - a huge monster that I think he sold (or maybe traded), and a shohin one that might be similar in size to this one. So I figured I'd get a small relatively cheap one and see how it does in this climate. I don't have a greenhouse for wintering so it will either need to spend the winter under lights or in a cool window.

Got it from a guy who sells them on ebay. He typically has dozens of them available, this was one of the smallest. I got it late last summer, kept it under MH lighting this winter. It grew through the winter but very slowly. Repotted it in May when it was growing slowly. Since then we've had a pretty sunny/hot summer by Rochester standards and it has been growing well. I just did some pruning and wiring about a week ago. Wiring is quite tricky because there really isn't much to anchor to, so I've had to be creative. It don't look great but seems to get the job done.

Since this is just an experimental piece I won't be doing anything fancy with it - just aiming for a basic shape like in the second image. Most likely the shoots growing on the front will be removed. There is an area of deadwood at the top (bright area) that could be carved down the road.

Particularly interested in any thoughts/advice from the olive master @Adair M :)

Current image after some pruning/wiring

View attachment 320409

Current thinking on future structure of canopy

View attachment 320410
Yeah, in the early stages like yours in in right now, you have to wrap the wire around pretty much h anyway you can to get a good anchor. Once it puts on a few branches, it won’t be a problem.

This tree of mine:


image.jpg

When I got it, it had a fairly sparse appearance:





8EDF49D9-5CC6-4C2B-9FC9-C81D27DD6759.jpeg

So, they develop rather quickly.

Remove the wire after a month or so.

That looks like a nice little stump!
 

Cadillactaste

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Sweet...my tater does wonderful under lights through NE Ohio winters. I think you will find no problems wintering indoors. Mine came from an Ebay seller as well.
 
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Clorgan

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Yeah, in the early stages like yours in in right now, you have to wrap the wire around pretty much h anyway you can to get a good anchor. Once it puts on a few branches, it won’t be a problem.

This tree of mine:


View attachment 320413

When I got it, it had a fairly sparse appearance:





View attachment 320415

So, they develop rather quickly.

Remove the wire after a month or so.

That looks like a nice little stump!

Love that yellow pot!
 

coh

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Yeah, in the early stages like yours in in right now, you have to wrap the wire around pretty much h anyway you can to get a good anchor. Once it puts on a few branches, it won’t be a problem.

This tree of mine:


View attachment 320413

When I got it, it had a fairly sparse appearance:





View attachment 320415

So, they develop rather quickly.

Remove the wire after a month or so.

That looks like a nice little stump!
Developing nicely. How long have you had it?
 

coh

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Sweet...my tater does wonderful under lights through NE Ohio winters. I think you will find no problems wintering indoors. Mine came from an Ebay seller as well.
Same guy in Southern California? He usually has dozens of them for sale.
 

coh

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Fun trees, this one came from the same seller about a year ago.
View attachment 320501
Hmm, I think I remember seeing that one. Looked at so many. I had initially put a firm price limit of $100 on myself but then I found myself saying "hmm, how much better of a stump can I get for another $20." Then another $20, etc. I probably looked at everything he had listed for under $250. Eventually I decided to stick to my original plan and see if I could keep a small/cheap one healthy in this climate. If so I'd like to get a bigger one with more design options down the road (like yours).

I remember talking to you about his somewhat unorthodox shipping method.
 

coh

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Yep.

I've tried a number of different lights - standard fluorescent, compact fluorescent, LED...metal halide seems to give me the best results. It's 400 watts though, so when running for 16 hours a day it isn't cheap. Gives off a ton of heat too which is actually beneficial.

Would prefer to just use a window but our old house has smaller windows and it's basically overcast here from November through March. Tough on trees that like lots of light.
 

ConorDash

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Yeah that is a nice tree for a "try".
Your virt is quite "foliage pad" like, which the old ancient olives don't tend to be, but I assume you are naturalistic, which you might not be, so i apologise.
Could even let a leader run and turn that abrupt end to the trunk, in to some super taper, sumo style :). Very cool little tree.,
 
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Cadillactaste

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Here's my Olive...I believe it is the same seller though. Came from California...TONS of Olives for sale. Adair once called it a Bog Monster. Keeping with that theme...I gave the tree twisting branches such as a monster with tentacles.
Olive August 2020 1.jpg
 
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