Content
- Olives are usually not self-pollinated
- Cross-pollination by genetically different secondary tree
- Pollination on olive trees
- Self-pollinated varieties
- Tips & Tricks
Olives are usually not self-pollinated
Olive trees are not only pretty to look at and give the balcony and terrace a wonderful Mediterranean touch, with a little luck and good care, you can even harvest even olives. But you should have several trees, as most varieties are cross-pollinated.
Cross-pollination by genetically different secondary tree
Although the flowers of the olive tree are hermaphrodite, d. H. these are two-sexed flowers, but pollination works best with a second or several olive trees. The reason for this lies in the necessary genetic diversity, because trees with different hereditary factors fertilize better than trees with the same DNA. Although a self-fertilization under certain circumstances (eg with the help of a brush) quite possible, but does not bring the desired yield. Incidentally, this also applies to olive trees with the same DNA, as they are drawn about a propagation of cuttings - these trees fertilize each other only moderately to not at all.
Pollination on olive trees
Olive trees are rarely fertilized by insects, but rather by wind pollination. The wind transfers the male pollen to the female inflorescence of the other tree. However, since olive trees in our latitudes should be better kept on the balcony or terrace for climatic reasons, wind pollination is difficult to enforce. However, you can help by hand: With the help of a brush you transfer the pollen from one to the other tree. You can also shake the trees a bit to mimic wind pollination. Olive trees usually bloom between April to June, later in cooler temperatures.
Self-pollinated varieties
A few varieties are able to fertilize themselves. But even with these self-fertilization brings only a very low yield, the cross-pollination remains successful and also yielding. However, if you do not have the space for several trees, but would still like to harvest your own olives, you can switch to these varieties:
For a higher harvest, however, at least a second olive tree, which is in the immediate vicinity of the first, would be advisable.
Tips & Tricks
Olives have, depending on the variety, white to yellow-green flowers, which, however, only appear in a corresponding overwintering. To encourage an olive tree to flower, it should be kept in a bright location at around 8 to 10 ° C. He may not be fertilized during this period of rest and only slightly watered.