Great British Olive Tree Survey - Join in - are your olives edible?
As Mediterranean garden design specialists, olive trees are a favourite part of any plan.
People are still often surprised that olive trees will grow in the UK but in fact do grow well: mature specimens being hardy to -12 degrees Centigrade. They have to survive in mountains from Greece to Spain and often experience frost.
Many people are now growing olive trees in their gardens because they are decorative and slow growing, ideal for patios, sun terraces and other small garden areas. They are woody, tough characters.
So olive trees look good, but are they productive as a fruit tree?
We never expected, and certainly never promised, that olive trees would bear edible fruit in the UK, but it seems climate change is having a positive effect here.
Many people have now told us they are producing fruit and can they eat them? Well, they won't be poisonous if you haven't sprayed them..but edible? Apparently you have to soak them in brine for two or three weeks first - (anyone know the recipe?)
We were curious to know how far this fruiting phenomenon has progressed. We have launched a survey form on our website (http://www.eastofedenplants.co.uk/
We are compiling a map of the UK that we will publish later in the year. So do your bit - let us know of your olive tree success! You can use the form to send up to three images.
Tell your friends. Be the first on your area to produce olives. Then tell us how well they are doing. There is additional help with our Olive Tree Guide http://www.eastofedenplants.co.uk/
There is also a serious scientific side to this survey, helping to chart climate change in the UK using the olive tree as an indicator species.
But don't you worry about that - if you think you will be kicking back later this year eating your home-grown olives, then let us know! We will publish the best images, too.
Oh, and if you want to start your own olive grove, we supply olive trees in all sizes from tiny to monster specimens over 100 years old. We can even design and make an olive tree garden for you.
You can go directly to the Great British Olive Tree Survey Form here http://www.eastofedenplants.co.uk/
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
