Olive Tree (olea europea)
SKU:
£1.35
£1.35 - £70.00
per item
Seed Prices
5 grams (approx 20 seeds) £1.35
10 grams (approx 40 seeds) £1.95
25 grams (approx 100 seeds) £3.75
50 grams (approx 200 seeds) £6.50
100 grams (approx 400 seeds) £10.50
250 grams (approx 1000 seeds) £22.50
500 grams (approx 2000 seeds) £40.00
1000 grams (approx 4000 seeds) £70.00
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Germination, Sowing and After Care Information for
Olive Tree (olea europea)
Olive tree seeds can be difficult to get to germinate, they have a hard, stony endocarp (the hard covering surrounding the seeds itself) For the seeds to germinate it is necessary for this to be broken -in order for the seed to germinate and break through it. This can be attempted in several ways either through stratification or my scarification where the seed coat is physically damaged.
For the stratification method the seed should first be soaked in warm water for 48 hours, then drain off the water. Next prepare a free draining substrate into which the seeds are to be mixed, this can be a 50/50 mixture of compost and sharp sand, or perlite, vermiculite. The chosen substrate mix needs to be moist (but not wet), if you can squeeze water out of it with your hand it is too wet and your seeds may drown and die.
Mix the seeds into the substrate, making sure that their is enough volume of material to keep the seeds separated. Place the seed mixture into a clear plastic bag (freezer bags, especially zip-lock bags are very useful for this -provided a little gap is left in the seal for air exchange) If it is not a zip-lock type bag it needs to be loosely tied.
Write the date on the bag so that you know when the pre-treatment was started.
The mixed seeds require a sustained period at temperatures of around 13 Celsius for at least 30 days to break down the dormancy that is within them. At the end of the pre-treatment period sow the seeds onto a firm bed of good quality moist compost and cover with a few millimeters of additional moist compost. Gently firm this down and keep in a warm place, away from hot sunshine at between 20-27 Celsius. Germination should begin within 3-6 weeks but may take up to 3 months.
The other method to enable these seeds to germinate is to physically damage the seed coat. This can be achieved using sandpaper to scratch into the seed coat (but be very careful not to damage the seed embryo inside. Alternatively seeds can be chipped at the more pointed end where the root will emerge. Or the seed can be cracked length ways by gently squeezing it in a vice. After using any one of these treatments the seeds should be stratified as above. It is likely that the germination will be quicker and in greater numbers after using any of these methods than just stratification alone.
Keep the seedlings well watered, weed free and protected from winter frost for the first few winters. Growth in the first year is usually between 10 and 30cm and and usually trouble free. Allow them to grow for at least 3 years before planting them in a permanent position.
For the stratification method the seed should first be soaked in warm water for 48 hours, then drain off the water. Next prepare a free draining substrate into which the seeds are to be mixed, this can be a 50/50 mixture of compost and sharp sand, or perlite, vermiculite. The chosen substrate mix needs to be moist (but not wet), if you can squeeze water out of it with your hand it is too wet and your seeds may drown and die.
Mix the seeds into the substrate, making sure that their is enough volume of material to keep the seeds separated. Place the seed mixture into a clear plastic bag (freezer bags, especially zip-lock bags are very useful for this -provided a little gap is left in the seal for air exchange) If it is not a zip-lock type bag it needs to be loosely tied.
Write the date on the bag so that you know when the pre-treatment was started.
The mixed seeds require a sustained period at temperatures of around 13 Celsius for at least 30 days to break down the dormancy that is within them. At the end of the pre-treatment period sow the seeds onto a firm bed of good quality moist compost and cover with a few millimeters of additional moist compost. Gently firm this down and keep in a warm place, away from hot sunshine at between 20-27 Celsius. Germination should begin within 3-6 weeks but may take up to 3 months.
The other method to enable these seeds to germinate is to physically damage the seed coat. This can be achieved using sandpaper to scratch into the seed coat (but be very careful not to damage the seed embryo inside. Alternatively seeds can be chipped at the more pointed end where the root will emerge. Or the seed can be cracked length ways by gently squeezing it in a vice. After using any one of these treatments the seeds should be stratified as above. It is likely that the germination will be quicker and in greater numbers after using any of these methods than just stratification alone.
Keep the seedlings well watered, weed free and protected from winter frost for the first few winters. Growth in the first year is usually between 10 and 30cm and and usually trouble free. Allow them to grow for at least 3 years before planting them in a permanent position.
