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Kalamata olive tree name comes from the city of Kalamata located in the Messinia region in Greece. This is where the Kalamata olive tree originated and is mostly cultivated.
Kalamata aka Kalamon variety is cultivated mainly in Messinia, Lakonia, and in Achaia regions in Greece. This olive variety also known as Kalamatiani, Aetonihi, Hondrolia.
Kalamata tree is a medium to a large, old-fashioned, lively olive tree. It thrives in areas with big atmospheric humidity and requires regular watering. The leaves are the largest in the size compared to all other Greek olive varieties. The olive fruits are large, curved one-sided, weighing up to 6 grams. Kalamata olive fruit ripes from November to December and is one of the best table olive varieties.
Just look into a brief video about olive groves in Kalamata, the land of olive trees to build a first impression how Kalamata olive trees look like.
Kalamata Olive Tree Appearance
Kalamata olive trees are evergreen, low-maintenance trees, producing plentiful fruits of antioxidant-rich, versatile Kalamata olives as early as their first years after planting.
Kalamata olive trees have weeping branches with shiny, larger than the normal olive tree silvery-green leaves that retain their color year-round in warm climates. Their root system is invasive and extends widely from its base to get the optimum moisture that it could retrieve from this dry area.
Kalamata olive trees grow to be 14 – 20 feet (4 – 6 meters) tall at maturity with a 15 – 20 foot (4.5 – 6 meters) spread.
Kalamata trees olives emerge green before transitioning to light pink, then ultimately turn glossy dark purple or brown when they’ve ripened on the tree and are ready to be harvested.
Specifications
| Kalamata Olive Tree | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Origin | Kalamata, Messinia – the southest region in Greece |
| Scientific Name | Olea europaea ‘Kalamata’ aka ‘Kalamon’ (Olea europaea var. Ceraticarpa) |
| Height | 14 -20 feet (4 – 6 meters) |
| Flowers | Small, fragrant, creamy flowers |
| Fruiting | Can produce fruit in 1st year |
| Pollination | Self-pollinating |
| Soil composition | Various loamy soils including sandy loam, clay loam, silt loam; well-draining |
| Resistance | Cold-hardy down to 22°F (-5.5°C) |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | Zones 8-10 outdoors, Zones 4-7 on the patio/indoors |
Oldest Kalamata Olive Tree
The Mana is the oldest Olive Tree of Kalamata located in the area of the University of Peloponnese at Lakonikis street and was declared a “Preserved natural monument” by the decision of the Minister of Agriculture, Greece.
It is a Kalamon variety 14 meters high, the perimeter of its trunk is around nine meters, the diameter of its canopy is 15 meters and its age is estimated between 800-850 years (and according to research by the Messinian forester Dr. Panagiotis Bazigou can reach 1733 years).
The Mana – Olive of Kalamata, also called “mother-olive” can be the symbol of the city, the monument which can be its trademark. Though, Kalamata city is deeply connected to the olive and oil world.
Growing Zones
Kalamata olive trees originate in Greece, however, now is spread around the world. The ideal growing zone is the Mediterranean region. However, can be found cultivated in South America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and the United States.
According to USDA Hardiness Zones Kalamata trees flourish in Zones 8-10 if planted outdoors. Otherwise, if planted in a container, they can remain outside in Zones 4-7 until winter, when they should be brought inside.
Planting
Kalamata olive trees should be planted in fall or early spring. If planted outside, choose a location that receives full sunlight to partial shade and good soil drainage. Ideally, an olive tree should get at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Kalamon olive variety is self-pollinating and will yield fruit with just one, but planting a second will boost crop yield. If you choose to plant more than one, make sure they are 8-12 feet (2.4 – 3.6 meters) apart from each other, measuring from their trunks.
Remove any weeds or turf grass and clear away any debris from the site. Dig a hole that is roughly twice the width of the root ball. Backfill the hole with soil, then water gently to settle the roots.
If you choose to plant your Kalamata olive tree in a pot or container, choose a pot that has drainage holes for watering and that is 1.5 – 2 times the width of the container your tree arrived in or at least 30% larger than its root ball.
Kalamata Olive Tree Care
Kalamata olive trees are low-maintenance, able to tolerate many different soil types, a range of sunlight, and able to withstand temperatures as low as 22°F (-5.5°C).
Sun and shade
All olive trees love the sun, and the Kalamata olive tree is no different. Kalamata olive trees thrive in full sunlight when they receive at least 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
This olive tree can also tolerate partial shade (4 – 6 hours of sunlight), but this may reduce its overall production yield and slow down the growth.
Soil
Kalamata olive trees are able to tolerate a wide variety of soil as long as it boasts good drainage. Though they prefer well-draining, various loamy soils: sandy loam, clay loam, silt loam, and silty clay loam.
Also, you can plant and grow your Kalamata trees successfully in a range of soil types, from sandy to loamy to clay. The soil pH normally is between 6 to 8. So it’s a good idea to test the soil ahead of planting to determine whether or not it needs adjusting. You can add lime or coffee grounds to increase the soil pH or sulfur to lower it if necessary.
Watering
Although Kalamata olive trees can tolerate drought, they should be watered regularly when first planted to help establish a healthy root system. For the first few weeks after planting, water your Kalamata olive tree twice weekly.
After that, you can reduce watering to once every week or bi-weekly. Don’t water soil that is already moist to avoid olive tree overwatering symptoms. Test the level by inserting your finger into the soil to at least 2 inches (5 cm) down. If the soil feels dry and soil particles don’t stick to your finger, you need to water.
Proper watering is one of the keys to growing any olive tree, particularly those grown in pots. The aim is to keep the soil of your olive tree moist but not soggy.
Still not sure when to water your olive tree in a pot? For more scientific results, use a moisture meter to be sure that your olive tree is thirsty.
Last update on 2024-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Fertilizing
To boost your olive tree growth and harvest, feed your tree at least twice a year, in spring and fall, with a slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer or balanced for olive trees fertilizer.
Typically three applications evenly-spaced throughout the growing season should be enough to keep your Kalamata olive tree happy, growing, and producing. Olive trees also respond well to additional feeding with organic liquid fertilizer, such as liquid kelp, or fish emulsion, but it is generally not necessary.
You can find key nutrients for olive tree and suggestions for potted olive tree fertilizers in my article: best fertilizers for olive trees in pots.
Pruning
How you prune your Kalamata olive tree is totally up to you. Many gardeners prefer to prune their olive trees so that it has an exposed trunk and traditional shape, while others opt for a central-leader style. Read my article about shaping olive trees to find more valuable information on pruning.
Kalamata olive trees respond well to yearly pruning. Prune at the leaf nodes at the end of winter but before the tree has started flowering. Beginning at the base, prune off any dead or dying branches, as well as any long, thin stems (which generally aren’t strong enough to bear olive fruit). From there, you can go ahead and prune any branches that are impeding the growth of others or blocking the plant from having ample airflow.
Pruning is recommended for increasing sunlight penetration, opening up the canopy, and boosting olive harvest.
Kalamata Olive Tree Harvest
Kalamata olives (Kalamon variety) are meaty and juicy, with small pits. Your tree will begin fruiting within the first years, but maximum fruit yield will reach its maturity (~ 7-10 years). The olives ripen on the tree, and you can tell when they’re ready when they become glossy dark purple, or brown.
These olive fruits usually ripen during mid-November to early January in Greece, making them an excellent choice for creating your own olive oil or prepared as table olives and consumed as a snack or ingredient in the dish.
Good to point, that Kalamata olives are one of the top exported food items from Greece all over the world.
If you’re shopping for olive oil, it’s worthwhile to check the harvest date on the bottle label. Freshly pressed olive oil, particularly organic, will often list the harvest date, giving you an idea of the oil’s freshness and quality.
Are looking for more information on olive tree maintenance indoors, see my article about indoor olive tree care in 5 steps!
Kalamata or Kalamon Olives
All olive lovers know about Kalamata or Kalamon olives, the meaty, distinct superior taste, dark brown or purple antioxidant-rich fruits perfect for making oils, putting on pizza, or scattering across an antipasto platter.
Incredibly popular for their large harvests and hardiness, Kalamata or Kalamon olives is considered as a superior variety of edible olives which thrives in an arid environment with dry and low moisture soil.
Therefore, the European Commission grants a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) to Kalamata olives originating in the Messinia region, Greece. This Kalamata PDO status provides that the quality or other characteristics of the Kalamata olives are essentially attributable to the particular geographical environment of Kalamata in the Messinia region and incorporates natural and human factors such as climate, soil conditions, topography, local know-how, etc
Kalamata Olive Tree in Pot
Kalamata olive trees make excellent outdoor plants as well as patio accents, easily brought inside during winter snaps, with gorgeous silvery-green foliage and delicate white blooms.
When growing in pot, olive tree is much smaller than planted in ground and needs more frequent watering due to limited space in pot.
If you need to choose a right pot, a 20-22 inches (50 – 55 cm) container would be appropriate to grow small Kalamata olive tree. Using pots that are made from clay and ceramic will assist better as they are “breathable” materials, helping the roots to stay well aerated.
Don’t forget to check olive roots once per year and repot it at least each few years. It helps to avoid pot bound situation and keep the soil refreshed and rebuilt nutrition level.
Grab Essentials for Your Olive Tree
We have selected highly customers recommended available products on Amazon:
- Sonkir Soil Moisture Meter 3-in-1
- Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
- TreeHelp Premium Fertilizer for Olive
Last update on 2024-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Greek Kalamata olive tree is like having a piece of the Greek Isles, right in your backyard or on your patio. And when it’s pot or container-grown, it will remain compact, measuring 8 to 15 feet (2.4 – 4.5 m) at full maturity.
Also, its Kalamata olives are one of the most known in the world due to their quality, rich texture, distinct superior taste. They named King olives are widely used in cooking and as an ingredient in Mediterranean dishes and other cuisines.
In case you are looking for an evergreen tree, consider Kalamata olive tree that is easy to grow and very hardy tree!
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Hi, I’m Vangelis Kleftogiannis, the founder of Oliviada and an established olive oil expert from Kalamata, Greece. My expertise isn’t just in producing quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil, but also in the cultivation and care of olive trees themselves. I am deeply committed to sharing my knowledge and know-how, helping others understand the intricacies of olive tree growing and the creation of quality olive oil.
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