For olive lovers, today we want to teach you how to germinate olives. If you want to plant an olive tree from scratch, follow each of the steps we explain today.
Olive seedling, the farmer’s amazing trick to grow it from bones!
To germinate an olive, a seed is needed, which is located in the heart. It is important to note that olives that are suitable for consumption cannot germinate. This is because during the healing process, their reproductive power is neutralized. The seed should be a fruit picked directly from the tree, preferably in the most ripe state or even better if you buy the seeds from a specialized company. Once you have the seeds, you need to follow these steps:
Step 1
To extract the core, the pulp must be removed from the olive and washed with a scouring pad. Several seeds should be used, since after removing the pulp, the seeds are placed in a glass of water for 24 hours. This way, you can get rid of the seeds you don’t need, as they will float.
Once the bones have been selected, they are broken with the help of tweezers. This process must be carried out very carefully so as not to damage the seeds. To do this, you need to apply pressure along the length and width of the bone until the seed is released.
Step 2
We continue the process by germinating the seeds. To do this, we have two options: the first is to buy a germination kit. The second option is to make a homemade germinator. All you need is an airtight container (such as a jar), cotton wool and water. First, add the cotton wool to the container until it is more than half full, then add the seeds.
We go ahead and add the water, you should add very little, just to moisten the cotton wool. To prevent the formation of fungi, we can add a fungicide to the germinator. Finally, we close the container and place it in a cool place where it will receive some sunlight, for example, near a window.
Step 3
Germination of the seeds can take four (4) to six (6) weeks. For vegetative activity, it is important to keep the germination system moist. Growth begins through the root of the heart, the organ from which the embryo develops. Once the root and some leaves have grown, it is planted in a pot with coarse sand and compost to continue its development.
Olive trees are slow-growing plants that usually gain between 5 and 10 centimeters in height per year. Indoor olive trees grow even slower than those planted in the ground and usually only need to be transplanted into a larger container every few years.
