When to Plant Olive in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Olive guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to May, Sep
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.5
Olive is a long lived evergreen tree for cool winters and warm dry summers. It needs several weeks below 10°C to flower. A first small crop comes at 3 to 5 years, with fruit picked April to June.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Hard frosts below minus 8°C can damage olive trees, especially young ones (PlantingSeason). Late frost can cut flowering (COGS). Cold hardy varieties such as Arbequina, Coratina and Leccino are suggested (Australis). Harvest months are our estimate.
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How to Grow Olive in Cold / Highland Australia
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Olive
Recommended Varieties
- Manzanillo, Kalamata (table)
- Frantoio, Arbequina, Coratina, Leccino (oil, cold hardy)
- Barnea (self fertile)
Key Challenges
- Hard frost below minus 8°C
Pro Tips
- Cold hardy varieties
- Sheltered site
Pests and problems for Olive in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Olive
When ready: Green olives when fruit turns light green. Black olives when fully purple black. Oil when about half the fruit has turned purple (PlantingSeason).
What olive costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Olive
When do you plant olive in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Mar to May, Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Sep
When should I plant Olive in Canberra?
Hard frosts below minus 8°C can damage olive trees, especially young ones (PlantingSeason). Late frost can cut flowering (COGS). Cold hardy varieties such as Arbequina, Coratina and Leccino are suggested (Australis). Harvest months are our estimate.
How do I know when Olive are ready to harvest?
Green olives when fruit turns light green. Black olives when fully purple black. Oil when about half the fruit has turned purple (PlantingSeason).
What are the best Olive varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Manzanillo, Kalamata (table), Frantoio, Arbequina, Coratina, Leccino (oil, cold hardy), Barnea (self fertile).
What grows well with Olive?
Good companion plants for Olive include: Thyme, Lavender, Rosemary, Caper.
Are olive salt tolerant?
Fairly. Olive are moderately tolerant of salt and handle slightly salty water better than most veggies.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.