coh
Imperial Masterpiece
Join the crowd, right?
I've long admired olives from afar. Until recently I wasn't aware of anyone growing them around here. Then one showed up at Bill's place and I've been able to watch it develop over the past few years. Was also very impressed by a bunch of them at the last National Show. @Adair M in particular had a couple of nice ones - a huge monster that I think he sold (or maybe traded), and a shohin one that might be similar in size to this one. So I figured I'd get a small relatively cheap one and see how it does in this climate. I don't have a greenhouse for wintering so it will either need to spend the winter under lights or in a cool window.
Got it from a guy who sells them on ebay. He typically has dozens of them available, this was one of the smallest. I got it late last summer, kept it under MH lighting this winter. It grew through the winter but very slowly. Repotted it in May when it was growing slowly. Since then we've had a pretty sunny/hot summer by Rochester standards and it has been growing well. I just did some pruning and wiring about a week ago. Wiring is quite tricky because there really isn't much to anchor to, so I've had to be creative. It don't look great but seems to get the job done.
Since this is just an experimental piece I won't be doing anything fancy with it - just aiming for a basic shape like in the second image. Most likely the shoots growing on the front will be removed. There is an area of deadwood at the top (bright area) that could be carved down the road.
Particularly interested in any thoughts/advice from the olive master @Adair M
Current image after some pruning/wiring
Current thinking on future structure of canopy
I've long admired olives from afar. Until recently I wasn't aware of anyone growing them around here. Then one showed up at Bill's place and I've been able to watch it develop over the past few years. Was also very impressed by a bunch of them at the last National Show. @Adair M in particular had a couple of nice ones - a huge monster that I think he sold (or maybe traded), and a shohin one that might be similar in size to this one. So I figured I'd get a small relatively cheap one and see how it does in this climate. I don't have a greenhouse for wintering so it will either need to spend the winter under lights or in a cool window.
Got it from a guy who sells them on ebay. He typically has dozens of them available, this was one of the smallest. I got it late last summer, kept it under MH lighting this winter. It grew through the winter but very slowly. Repotted it in May when it was growing slowly. Since then we've had a pretty sunny/hot summer by Rochester standards and it has been growing well. I just did some pruning and wiring about a week ago. Wiring is quite tricky because there really isn't much to anchor to, so I've had to be creative. It don't look great but seems to get the job done.
Since this is just an experimental piece I won't be doing anything fancy with it - just aiming for a basic shape like in the second image. Most likely the shoots growing on the front will be removed. There is an area of deadwood at the top (bright area) that could be carved down the road.
Particularly interested in any thoughts/advice from the olive master @Adair M
Current image after some pruning/wiring
Current thinking on future structure of canopy
