Suitability of land for growing olives

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Member for

10 years 7 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

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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