Olive Plantations

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How to produce fruiting Olive trees?​

How to get olive trees to product olives​

If you have an olive tree the chances are you’ve thought about whether or not it will bear fruit. And surprisingly, it can take some varieties of olive trees up to eight years to start to produce flowers and come into fruiting. Here, we look at the different factors that might determine whether or not your olive tree will produce fruit…

Olive Varieties​

Choosing an olive tree variety can make all the difference as to whether or not you will be rewarded with fruit. Most olive trees are chosen for their striking ornamental appearance, but if you’re after fruit then choose wisely. The following variety of olive trees can if looked after properly, produce fruit…

• Arbequina olive tree is a self fertile variety which flowers early in the season. A very good fruiter. The Arbequina will produce fruit from four years old.
• Cipressino olive tree is a very hardy tree and shows good resistance to coastal conditions but will require a pollinator to produce an abundance of black olives that are best suited for fine olive oil.
• Frantoio olive tree a self-fertile tree, as well as being a good pollinator; the olives make a lovely, fruity aromatic oil.
• Hojiblanca olive tree
• Leccino olive tree will need to be planted with another Olive tree a good pollinator such as the Arbequina.
• Picual variety, self fertile.

All olives are green until left to ripen into a black olive

How to encourage fruiting ​

Olive trees may be drought-tolerant, but they need to be kept well-watered, as dry spells can affect flowering and fruiting. They also need feeding regularly with a liquid feed every two weeks during the growing season.

If you find your olive tree isn’t producing fruit it could be down to poor pollination or insufficient water when flowers are setting. Also, the variety may not be suitable for the location it is growing.



So, to ensure a good crop, make sure the trees have plenty of sunshine and there is plenty of air circulation. In terms of fertiliser, choose one suitable for fruiting trees – ideally one that has a high potassium percentage. Our slow release feed gives the tree the nutrients it requires to help enable fruit production.

The Guano content of our feed has a particularly high nitrogen content and this is important for trees to produce fruit. And finally, if you prune your olive tree after it has produced the season’s crop this will encourage a new crop.



Young green olives hang on branches

 

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Five Reasons to Plant an Olive Tree​

1. Olive trees are hardy and long-lived. They can live for hundreds of years and are able to withstand extreme weather conditions. This makes them ideal for planting in a variety of climates.

2. Olive trees are a source of delicious and healthy oil. The oil produced by olives is high in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, making it a healthy addition to any diet.



olive tapenade

3. Olive trees are also a source of food. The olives themselves can be eaten fresh or cured and are a staple in Mediterranean cuisine.



Cure your Olives, recipe above.

4. Olive trees can provide shade and beauty. The trees are evergreen and have a distinctive, gnarled appearance that can add visual interest to any landscape, garden or patio terrace.



Olive tree in a pot on a hot summer day in front of stone wall



Creating shade is so important in a garden.

5. Olive tree cultivation also helps to preserve biodiversity. The trees provide food and habitat for many species of birds and insects and helps to protect soil and water resources.



Common Starling feeding its nestling

Olive tree history

In addition, planting an olive tree is a great way to connect with history and tradition. Olives have been cultivated for thousands of years. They have played an important role in the economy, culture, and cuisine of the Mediterranean region.
Planting an olive tree can be a way to honour that history and tradition and to feel a sense of connection to sunnier climbs! Furthermore,
Olive trees are drought-tolerant, which is great for regions where water is scarce and a precious resource. They are also capable of growth in poor soil conditions, which makes them versatile and adaptable.



Not only do they offer year long beauty, they are a reminder of sunnier climes.

In conclusion, planting an olive tree has numerous benefits, including being a source of delicious and healthy oil. They also provide shade and beauty and preserve biodiversity. Additionally, it can connect you to history, tradition, and culture. It can also be a great way to make a sustainable and environmentally friendly choice for your garden.

 

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The government has set a target to impart training to over 2,800 olive farmers and stakeholders during the tree plantation campaign for the current season for encouraging and developing olive farming in potential areas across the country.

Dr Hassan Tariq, National Project Director Olive Cultivation Program in National Agriculture Research Center has said that during the current spring tree plantation drive about 47 training programmes would be organised in different areas to familiarise farmers with international best practices for olive cultivation.

Besides, the farmers would be trained on orchard management, and value addition of the olive to enhance their farm income, whereas they would also be introduced to the latest marketing techniques, labelling and branding.