Olea Europaea

Hardiness zones 8-10, (1°C,35°F/ -10°C,15°F) in Winter. Best grown in a sunny sheltered site in any well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soil, heat, drought and loves the sun. Excellent for indoors. Use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand or perlite. Even though the plants are very drought tolerant, water them at least twice a week and fertilize them monthly with a balanced fertilizer. During the Winter months, water is restricted to once every 2 weeks. Germination First, scarify the seeds. For faster germination, soak the seeds in slightly hot water for 24-48 hours, followed by 3 months before sowing at 3/4" deep in your soil mixture. Any planting out is best done in late Spring or early Summer, after the last expected frosts. Keep damp soil, not soaking wet. Keep pot in warm situation 68-75°F. Germination can take several months. It can be a lot more depending on their degree of unbroken dormancy, don't lose faith. Scarification Seed coats may be so hard that they are impermeable to water. They need to be scratched or broken using a knife or sandpaper, in order to germinate. Chip the seeds with a sharp knife or make a few swipes with a sharp edged file or use sandpaper to allow moisture being more readily absorbed. Cold stratification This will break their dormancy. It creates a cold and moist environment for the seeds. Mixed in seeds with slightly moistened vermiculite or peat, only damp in a ziplock bag. Close zip bag shut and store it in the salad crisper compartment of your refrigerator. If any seeds begin to sprout during the cold stratification, simply remove the seed and plant.