Potted olive tree outdoors year round in zone 7a (central NC)?

6 years ago

Hello, I wonder if I can get some advice. I have a potted arbequina olive tree, about 8 years old that I usually bring indoors during the coldest months. It doesn’t like that at all and drops many leaves and often gets scale. I’ve decided I want to leave it outside all year round, in a half wine barrel container on our concrete patio or wood deck or grassy area (all south facing). I have read that containers should sit directly on the ground so they can absorb some of the grounds warmth, rather than have an air gap underneath (if placed on feet). The barrel has large drainage holes. My guess is that the concrete patio will retain more warmth as it is directly on the ground, whereas the wood deck is raised a few feet off the ground. The grassy area might rot the bottom of the barrel more quickly.

Any recommendations on whether I should place the barrel directly on the patio, deck or grass, or is it a must to have feet? I know the wood deck will eventually get water damage without the feet, but I care more about the olive tree staying warm enough over the winter, than the old deck at this point!

Any experiences to share container gardening in wine barrels in zone 7? Thanks so much!

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Comments (5)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Not gonna be happy in a zone 7 winter! Will not tolerate temps much below 20F and as low as 15F can kill them.

To be honest, I would not attempt to overwinter a containerized olive outside even in my mild winter climate.
sabine_farm thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
sabine_farm
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Gardengal, for the quick response! I’ve always felt the same way, that it couldn’t survive outside over winter, but I was in central England last month and my friend there keeps a potted olive tree outside all year round and it is thriving! I believe her area is equivalent to zone 7. I also saw quite a few olive trees in the ground around London.

I wonder if wrapping the barrel with a blanket anytime a freeze is forecast, might work.

is there anyone else here with olive trees growing outside in zone 7? Thanks.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
Most of the UK is zone 8 or 9. And London itself is a heat sink. I wouldn't risk it if I valued the tree.........
sabine_farm thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
6 years ago
Not gonna make it! Too cold!
sabine_farm thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
CasaLester RTP, NC (7b)
6 years ago
In NC zone 7b, even the hardiest varieties of Olea europaea are considered problematic in the ground (see discussion here). So if we apply the rule of thumb that containers can tolerate only two zones higher, then the lowest temperatures they could be safely exposed to long term are around 25F - so they would have to be moved to a warmer space (greenhouse, garage, crawlspace) when it gets colder than that outside. The good news is that potted olives overwinter very well as houseplants (even putting on new growth) so they can be kept in the house the whole winter and moved outside for the rest of the year.
sabine_farm thanked CasaLester RTP, NC (7b)