Mission Olive with Bacterial Blight? Rare but Treatable

Bacterial Blight on Mission Olive: What to Know?

Bacterial Blight on Mission Olive (Olea europaea 'Mission') is a bacterial condition with moderate severity. Mission Olive has low susceptibility to this disease. Pseudomonas is a group of bacteria that causes leaf spots, blights, cankers, and soft rots on many garden and houseplants. It thrives in cool, wet, or humid weather and spreads with splashing water, r...

Mission Olive is a easy-care plant.

Unlike most plants, Mission Olive has natural resistance to Bacterial Blight. Best treated with preventive measures rather than reactive treatment.

• ✓ Water wisely by using drip or a watering can at the base and watering early so leaves dry quickly.
• ✓ Keep the area clean by removing plant debris at season’s end and sanitizing pots, trays, and tools.
• ✓ Improve drainage and avoid overwatering, especially for houseplants.
• ✓ Provide good spacing, prune to open the canopy, and avoid working among plants when foliage is wet.
• ✓ Mulch soil to limit splash and protect plants from frost and mechanical injury such as hail or rough handling, which create entry points for bacteria.
• ✓ Choose healthy starts and resistant or tolerant varieties when available, and rotate crops each year.
• ✓ Fertilize moderately and avoid excess nitrogen that encourages soft, susceptible growth.