When should I plant olive seeds?

Question

I have some olive seed and would like to grow some olives. I am on the East Coast in Southern Virginia and need to know when I should plant seed and if they would even survive in my climate. Thank you for any help.

Answer 1

Hey Skyn -

You can certainly grow olives from seeds - but, not from the seeds from an olive (for example) that you would purchase from a grocer or restaurant. You need to have true and unprocessed olive seeds.

Now, you have two problems on your hands: Olive seeds to grow into mature olive trees will take about 7-8 years and up. Most olive trees are grown and propagated from other methods such as grafting. Seeds can be difficult to germinate for a novice and require alot of patience. If you were successful to get a growing Olive tree past germination, then the largest obstacle you have would be to grow this tree in Virginia. In the United States, Olives are best suited for a Mediterranean type climate - such as the commercial groves in California, where they are abundant (and messy as ornamentals).

So, its an uphill battle for you which requires lots of patience, a warmer climate and even more patience ...

Chris

Answer 2

If you are talking olive seeds from olives that you ate, it is not going to work. Since those olives are processed, it basically means the seeds were cooked.

Answer 3

Olive seeds should only be planted in Italy, they probably won't survive in your climate.

Answer 4

olives are posines unless they are procesed