Olive Tree Guild

I'm looking to plant a guild under an olive tree and am interested in some ideas for plants that would resist olive's allelopathic properties.  Thanks!

Currants, rasberries, gooseberries, etc. might work. I have not tried this myself, but since these work under walnut trees (allelopathic) they should work there too.

lavender grows under the olive orchards here

Kirk Hutchison wrote:
Currants, rasberries, gooseberries, etc. might work. I have not tried this myself, but since these work under walnut trees (allelopathic) they should work there too.

I don't think that is sound reasoning, especially in such disparate genera

That is why I said might. You could try one plant to see if it works, and if successful plant more.

I was responding to the should more than the might.

      Point taken. Still, I think there is a pretty decent chance of this working. I will try it myself in a little while (we are planning to get some olive trees).

I remember visiting Capistrano years ago and was surprised to find that the nun's were growing vegetables in the courtyard under the olive trees.  There were also roses.  The courtyard was very sunny and the trees were widely spaced.

Also as I remember there was not a lot of leafy cover -- the nuns may have pruned out the olives to let in more light.

Being honest here, I've never heard of Olives suppressing growth chemically, Autumn Olives yes, but not real olives. Does anyone know what chemical means they are supposed to use?

Emerson White wrote:
Does anyone know what chemical means they are supposed to use?

I've seen reference to phenolic compounds in olive oil inhibiting germination.  if that's the case, collecting all the fruit should solve the problem.  I suppose not relying on direct seeding would do the trick, as well.

In my olive grove I have rosemary, lavender, thymus, oregano, artichoke, lemongrass beneath olives. They also love the company of almonds and figs.

I have just visited a wonderful Olive Farm locally and bought 10 olive trees..... MISSION and FRANTOIO I know the Mission to be a lovely eating olive and the Frantoio is said to give tons of oil.

kasl wrote:
In my olive grove I have rosemary, lavender, thymus, oregano, artichoke, lemongrass beneath olives. They also love the company of almonds and figs.

I am glad to read that lavender works well with olives because it grows so easily here.... I will try your other suggestions. I have dug the holes already but am hesitating to plant. We are entering winter here and this could put them at risk if we get a bit of frost? What do you think?

I was told to add 1 kg bonemeal per tree. Is there any other planting advice when doing it permie style? How close can you grow these other plants.... right up against? I was told they need tons of sun. We have excellent sun here but they really seem to need lots? Not be shaded in any way....

Thanks in advance,
Chelle

Chelle

Chelle Lewis wrote:

I am glad to read that lavender works well with olives because it grows so easily here.... I will try your other suggestions. I have dug the holes already but am hesitating to plant. We are entering winter here and this could put them at risk if we get a bit of frost? What do you think?

I was told to add 1 kg bonemeal per tree. Is there any other planting advice when doing it permie style? How close can you grow these other plants.... right up against? I was told they need tons of sun. We have excellent sun here but they really seem to need lots? Not be shaded in any way....

In my experience they do better if planted during winter, though in my area the minimum winter temperatutre rarely drops below zero.  The summers are hot and arid here and chances are they wouldn't survive the drought.

When planting, I just stick them in the ground without adding anything in the soil (clay soil over here), and put some donkey manure on top of the soil. After that I just toss above it whatever I cut around.  My favorite planting combination is almond or fig behind and higher than the olive and punica granatum or Zizyphus zizyphus (sorry don't know the english names) in front of and lower than the olive respective to the sunlight directon.

Wild asparagus is also a great plant to have in the olive grove delicious and very healthy asks nothing, likes stress.

Thanks kasl  I looked up punica granatum... is pomegranate... to wonderful. I have 2 trees and I think I will try and get some going off of them to put there too.

I also looked up Zizyphus zizyphus ..... is the Jujube... that is a plant that has interested me for some time, I will see if I can get it too to add to my guild.

Ziziphus Jujuba is a fruit found in the hills and mountains of India. Its medicinal benefits are mentioned in Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine.This article tries to gain further insight on this herbal fruit.

Knowledge Gained from Research about Zizuphus Jujuba:

    * The component ziziphin, found in this herb is a Triterpene Saponin Glycoside.
    * Triterpene Saponin Glycosides (TSGs) are chemical compounds with healing properties.
    * Betulinic acid is a component which protects the cells in the body from virus.
    * It has anti- inflammatory and anti-malarial properties.
    * It is recently discovered as a potential anticancer agent too.
    * Japanese research has proved that this herb can improve liver functions.

Benefits of different parts of Ziziphus Jujuba:

The Leaves:

The leaves of this herb are astringent. It means that the leaves can narrow the blood vessels in the tissue and stop bleeding.They can reduce fever and prvent hair loss too.

The Seeds:

The seeds can induce sleep, reduce anxiety and prevent stomachache. Treatment of palpitations, nervous exhaustion and excessive perspiration is also possible using them. They prevent nausea and abdominal pain in pregnancy.

The Roots:

The root is dried and powdered. It is used in the treatment of fevers and dyspepsia. When the powder is applied on wounds and ulcers,they heal quickly.

The Fruits:

The dried fruits purify the blood and help in digestion. They are found beneficial in the treatment of hysteria, anemia, chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and irritability.

The Barks:

The barks is made into a bitter decoction and taken to get relief from gingivitis. Paste made from the bark can be applied on sores. Juice prepared from the root bark is said to provide relief from rheumatism and gout.

Found here...... Excellent addition to the guild.......

Almond and fig I can do too.... really neat. I'll have to look into wild asparagus. Sounds like another must-have.

I have been asking around and the agreement seems to be for winter planting. I was just told to hold off till August when no threat of frost. We rarely drop below zero too but I think we will get cold enough for fruiting because the farm I bought them from is getting good fruiting and it is not far from here.

Much thanks!
Chelle

I've read purslane is a good groundcover in the olive guild, although there are lots of options in the portulaca family that might be better-adapted or tastier.

Chickens are definitely worth considering, I've heard they get a lot out of olive fruit & pits.

I love purslane.... extremely rich in omega 3... amazingly so. And I just happen to have dug the holes for the olive trees near the foundations for the chickens... haha! Definitely looking good....... 

Thanks Joel.

Chelle

Emerson White wrote:
Being honest here, I've never heard of Olives suppressing growth chemically, Autumn Olives yes, but not real olives. Does anyone know what chemical means they are supposed to use?

Oleuropein is one chemical of note in olive. The only reference I found to allelopathic effects of oleuropein was from jasmine, and it inhibited some seeds from germinating and slowed cell division in onion root cells. Olive is loaded with that compound, and it isn't just in the fruit... the leaves are rich in it, the roots contain it also (not sure how much).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20199861

Looking at the natural guilds that develope in the wild with the olive or its relations might give you reliable guidance.

In VA/NC there are some native members of the OLIVE Olea europaea L. of Oleaceae has Related Species: Wild Olive (Olea africana), Oleaster (O. europaea var. oleaster) and native relatives of Distant Affinity: American Olive (Osmanthus americana), Fragrant Olive (O. fragrans).

From what I recall of the flowers I think they are related to the native haw (not haw viburnam or hawthorn)  and Autumn Olive / Russian Olive. Elaeagnus umbellata / Elaeagnus angustifolia (Oleaster Family).

I was hoping to experiment with raising olives myself but it appears to be impossible: http://www.ehow.com/how_6081550_grow-olive-trees-south.html

Hi, we will be doing a minor permablitz in a city garden soon (mostly sheet mulching the jungle of weeds) which happens to already have an olive tree. I think lavender is one of the plants we can try out there which the garden owners will enjoy. Can anyone say whether one plants the lavender on the drip line of the olive or inside it? There is already a rose bush that needs taming right next to it. We are in Mediterranean climate.

Thanks in advance

The seven species of Israel were olives, pomegranates, figs, dates, grapes, wheat and barley. They should all do well in your guild.