We had the pleasure of attending the McEvoy Ranch Olive Orchard Management Workshop a couple weeks ago and learned some great tips on olive orchard management that we wanted to share with our readers. Enjoy!
1. Fruit is formed on new growth that has been on the tree for 14 to 18 months.
2. To aid in developing the best fertilizing program, take leaf samples for analysis at the same time each year. The best time for this is in early spring.
3. Olives trees do not need high amounts of nitrogen.
4. Water management and fruit fly control are the biggest challenges in managing olive orchards. The best current organic fruit fly defense is Surround, a clay base product sprayed on the trees. It seems to completely deter the flies.
5. Olives are not created equal. Learning the qualities of different varieties will help you pick the best tree for your site and climate.
6. Learning to taste-test olive oils aids in picking oils that suit your favorite foods.
These are some of the highlights we enjoyed from the workshop. Have you tried growing olive trees in your garden or orchard? Share any tips you’ve picked up in the comments section!