Suitability of land for growing olives

2 posts
Tue, 03/18/2014 - 19:31 #1

Member for

10 years 8 months
Gus
Last seen: 03/20/2014 - 19:42
Joined: 03/18/2014 - 18:23

Suitability of land for growing olives

I'm looking to get advise on starting an olive grove e.g land prep, irrigation; olive variaties etc

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Thu, 03/20/2014 - 17:55 #2
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi Gus,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the question. 

I haven't grown olives myself, however have done some research and work for clients that were looking into them as a business. Some of the key points from the my research was:

• If you are planting a small area use a table variety (also suited to pickling), if you are going to plant a larger area consider an oil variety.

• Soils must be well drained.

• Need irrigation to increase yield, quality and size.

• Require 5-10 ML/ha/year depending on location, rainfall, evaporation (100mm rainfall provides 1ML/ha).

• July average temperature must average 12 degree or less (Range of 0 to 24, average of 12 degrees).

• Trees reach full maturity at 10 years.

• Require less management and machinery set up than other intensive crops. They do not require special machinery for pruning, spraying, cultivation and harvesting (if harvesting is done by hand).

• Breakeven point around 8 years.

A few questions, where is your farm located, do you know the soil type (have you had a soil test done), is there irrigation available?

Has anyone else had experience with growing olives and specific olive varieties?

Charlie

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