How to Grow Olive Trees in Colorado

Olive trees thrive in areas with hot summers and cool, but not frosty winters. Although older trees are somewhat frost-tolerant, the immature olive tree needs protection from temperatures colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. In Colorado, it's best to grow your olive tree in a container so you can bring it into a greenhouse over the winter months. Consider the Frantoio or Manzanillo varieties for successful container growing.

• 1

  Choose a pot with wheels or one that sits on a dolly. Once filled with soil, it may be challenging to move when the seasons change in Colorado.

• 2

  Measure the distance from the tip of the olive tree's rootball to the soil line on the trunk. This measurement will determine how deep to plant the tree. Add enough soil to the pot so that the tree will sit at the appropriate depth.

• 3

  Lower the olive tree's rootball into the pot and cover the roots with soil. Use your fingers to work the soil into and around the roots. Finish filling the pot with soil and place it in the sunniest part of your Colorado garden.

• 4

  Water the soil until water drains from the bottom of the pot. Allow it to drain completely and then repeat the procedure. Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry before watering again. Keep an eye on the moisture content of the soil if the weather is dry in Colorado as it may dry out quicker than normal.

• 5

  Fertilize the tree every two weeks during the spring and summer. Water the olive tree first and then apply a 17-6-10 fertilizer, diluted to half the strength listed on the label.

• 6

  Bring the olive tree indoors when the temperature in Colorado dips below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep it in a greenhouse or an area that does not get warmer than 60 degrees or colder than 40 degrees. Allow the soil to dry to within 5 inches of the surface before watering, during the period it is indoors. Stick a wooden chopstick 5 inches into the soil. If it comes out dry, it is time to water.

• 7

  Fertilize the olive tree once a month in the winter with the same fertilizer you use during the rest of the year, at the same rate.

• 8

  Move the tree outdoors in the spring when temperatures rise above 60 degrees and resume the spring and summer watering and fertilization schedule.