On the hills of Conversano and in all the Apulian olive groves from which we source our olives, the trees are cared for with the help of local peasant wisdom . Thanks to this, while respecting nature, we are able to harvest a genuine and sustainable fruit from the land. Our olive groves scattered throughout the Bari area are occasionally dotted with trees over a century old, testifying to the historic importance of the olive tree and its cultivation in Apulian culture. Remaining rooted in our history, olive cultivation occupies approximately 25% of the current regional agricultural area.
But what allowed this botanical species to take root so strongly in our territory?
The answer to this question is to be found, in large part, in the conditions that allow an olive tree to thrive:
- clayey - calcareous soil (therefore dry)
- temperate and warm climate, without strong temperature changes
- an altitude between 150 and 500 meters.
That's right. Typically, only a newly planted olive tree needs significant watering to encourage rooting.
Generally speaking, however, the olive tree does not need much water.
Fertilization, which should be done at certain times of the year, also influences its growth and ensures the correct development of the olive tree.
It will need some elements which, supplied through irrigation in the indicated doses, are mainly
- nitrogen (N), ideal in late winter and spring;
- phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), to be applied in autumn;
- calcium (Ca),
- magnesium (Mg) and
- boron (B).
Olive Groves and Water in the Apulian Region
As we were saying, the olive tree needs little humidity.
It should be watered only when necessary
- when the ground is dry and
- sparingly since water stagnation around the olive tree must be avoided .
For these reasons, drip irrigation systems are installed in many olive groves.
What has been said so far applies to olive cultivation for oil production, which is what sets us apart. The irrigation frequency , in fact, may vary from what has been said if the trees are intended for table olives.
THE HARVEST IN THE OLIVE GROVES OF FRANTOIO D'ORAZIO
Cultivated using the same methods used in the 1970s, our olive groves are traditional , meaning they are grown on plots of land surrounded by almond trees, cherry trees, and other local crops.
Far from being intensive, much less super-intensive, our systems are called “5x5”: each tree is 5 meters apart from the others, both in width and length.
Being so far apart, they tend to develop a low but wide canopy, leaving space for the operators who, between October and November, will harvest the fruit with the help of electric olive harvesters and shakers .
Olive cultivation practices, inspired by tradition and the most modern technologies, allow us to be even closer to respecting nature. We discussed this in the article "D'Orazio Apulian Olive Oil Mill: The Story of an Oil Mill and a Generous Land ."
