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Olive Trees in Mexico
Name: geert
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Why do olive trees do not bear in Mexico's semi-arid
highlands?. Ceratonia siliqua L. (carobs), with similar climate and soil
requirements, and from a similar mediterranean background, do.
Replies:
Mexico's government started planting olives about 50 years ago. Many adult
olives still exist - but do not yield.
Dear Geert,
Perhaps helpful - see http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/olive.html
"Adaptation: The olive requires a long, hot growing season to properly
ripen the fruit, no late spring frosts to kill the blossoms and sufficient
winter chill to insure fruit set. Home grown olives generally fruit
satisfactorily in the warmer coastal valleys of California. Virtually all
U.S. commercial olive production is concentrated in California's Central
Valley, with a small pocket of olive acreage outside Phoenix. The tree may
be grown as an ornamental where winter temperatures do not drop below 12°
F. Green fruit is damaged at about 28°, but ripe fruit will withstand
somewhat lower temperatures. Hot, dry winds may be harmful during the
period when the flowers are open and the young fruits are setting.... "
Sincerely,
Anthony R. Brach
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Update: June 2012
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