The olive tree can easily be brought through the winter as a container plant. With sufficient care, it can even survive the cold season outdoors unscathed.
Olive trees are native to the Mediterranean region and are therefore used to warm temperatures. We cannot meet these demands in Central Europe, especially in winter. But that doesn't mean that the olive tree doesn't stand a chance in our latitudes. On the contrary. If you prepare the plant properly and protect it from the cold temperatures, you can even keep olive trees he althy through the winter outdoors.
4 tips: How olive trees survive the cold season
Wait for the first frost
If you cultivate your olive tree in a tub, overwintering indoors or in another sheltered building is safest. Wait until the first frost sets in before moving to winter quarters. The plant is not damaged at low sub-zero temperatures and gets rid of cold-sensitive pests. You can use a temperature of -7 °C as a guideline for frost tolerance.
» Choose bright, cool winter quarters
Place the olive tree in the brightest possible place in the house. A lack of light is only life-threatening in extreme cases, but the plant will shed all its leaves if it is too dark. The leaves then have to grow again the next year, which requires a considerable amount of energy.
The temperature in the winter quarters should be around 10 °C. Unheated corridors and conservatories as well as basements with large windows are ideal locations.
» Gradually water less
The water requirement of the olive tree in winter is not as high as during the growing season. After moving to winter quarters, gradually water less and less. This gives the plant enough time to adapt to the decreasing amounts.
» Bring back out early
Put your olive tree outside again as soon as there are no more night frosts to be expected. Immediately after the protected hibernation, the olive tree should not be exposed to sub-zero temperatures. Avoid locations in full sun at first.Otherwise there is a risk of sunburn, which is expressed in reddish to brownish discolored leaves.
» Pack well outdoors
If you want to leave your olive tree outdoors in winter, you should take the following protective measures:
❶ Place the bucket on a thick piece of Styrofoam so that it is difficult for ground frost to penetrate from below.
❷ Wrap the bucket with mats made of jute, coconut or sisal. The more layers you use, the better the frost protection.
❸ Choose a sheltered location as close as possible to a heated building. The outer walls radiate heat, increasing the outside temperature in the immediate vicinity.
If your olive tree is growing in the garden, you can wrap it directly with mats made of natural materials or protect it from the cold with air-permeable fleece. Also, cover the area around the trunk with a thick layer of leaves or mulch.