I have always been fond of those elegant olive trees. So, last spring, I bought a small one and put it in my backyard. I thought, how hard could it be to take care of an olive tree, right? Well, turns out, it is not as easy as it looks. The first thing I needed to figure out was the right temperature.
Temperature Check
So, I started digging around. I found some stuff online, but most of it was too complicated. After some serious searching, I realized these trees like it warm, but not too hot. The sweet spot seemed to be between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I grabbed my old thermometer and started taking readings in my backyard. During the day, it was usually around 70 degrees, which seemed perfect. But, at night, it dropped to around 55 degrees. I was a bit worried about that. But my neighbor told me they can handle it, and it actually helps them grow.
Daily Monitoring
I made it a habit to check the temperature every day. I would jot down the readings in a small notebook I kept just for my olive tree. I felt like a real scientist, tracking the temperature changes. There were some pretty cold nights, especially in early spring. I got really nervous when the temperature dipped below 40 degrees. I even covered the tree with a blanket a couple of times, though my neighbor laughed about it. She said I was treating it like a baby.
- Morning Check: Usually around 60 degrees.
- Afternoon Peak: Reaches up to 75 degrees.
- Night Drop: Sometimes goes down to 50 degrees.
Adjusting Things
As summer came around, the temperature started rising. When it hit above 85 degrees, I noticed the leaves looking a bit droopy. I figured the tree was getting too hot. I decided to move it to a shadier spot in the yard, under a big oak tree. That seemed to do the trick. The temperature there was a bit cooler, and the olive tree looked much happier. It was kind of annoying having to move the pot around. And it was heavy. But hey, I was learning as I went.
Winter Worries
Now, winter is a whole different story. I read that olive trees can handle a bit of cold, but they don’t like frost. When the forecast predicted frost, I had to bring the tree inside. I cleared a spot in my living room, right by the window where it could still get some sunlight. It looked a bit out of place, but it was better than risking it outside. I didn’t want all my hard work to go to waste.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of an olive tree turned out to be more of an adventure than I expected. I learned a lot about temperature ranges and how to adjust things to keep the tree happy. I felt like I had accomplished something when I saw it thriving. It is still a small tree, but it is growing well. Maybe one day, I will even get some olives from it. Until then, I will keep checking the temperature and moving it around as needed. It is a bit of work, but totally worth it. I’m really happy with the way it looks in my yard, and it’s a nice reminder of what you can do with a bit of effort and a lot of love.
