Olives - From Britain
Global warming will have its benefits for us in the UK. Wines of a quality rivalling the French perhaps or how about home grown olives?
The UK’s first commercial olive grove was planted last year in Devon. Mark Diacono, 39, has planted 120 trees on his 17-acre plot on the banks of the Otter, near Honiton, and hopes to harvest his first crop in five to seven years. He is also growing almonds, apricots and persimmon and even plans to experiment with paw paw and Nepalese peppers in addition to the neglected Quince.
“The olive trees were imported from Tuscany, where they experience frost and snow in winter and high temperatures in summer. Drainage on the heavy Devon soil had to be improved, because olive trees are used to growing in thin, rocky soils. But with the rapidly warming climate, it is hoped the first commercial British olive crop will be harvested in a few years’ time.
Perhaps even more surprising, two commercial olive groves have been planted much further north, in Wales and Shropshire. Three hundred Italian olive trees were planted at Wroxeter Roman Vineyard, near Shrewsbury, and the first Welsh olive grove was begun in Anglesey.”
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Does someone have the contact details of Mark Diacono as i would like more details of growing olives in this country.
Thanks