Botanically, the olive tree is a shrub and therefore differs from a tree, that is: the tree has three distinct systems (roots, trunk and crown), while the shrub is made up of branches that separate from the central stem very close to the ground.
The shrub becomes a tree if there is human intervention.
Olive cultivation can have different destinations and obviously also purchase prices:
- ornamental olive trees , usually centuries-old, can cost around thousands of euros
- Production olive trees (for oil olives) are purchased at an age of less than two years and therefore the cost does not exceed 10 euros per plant
The price of an olive tree is usually influenced by whether the plant is obtained by grafting, micropropagation, or cutting.
How to care for an olive tree in the ground or in a pot
The main goal in olive growing is to prevent it from getting sick, by respecting some fundamental rules:
- avoid excessive shade
- avoid excess water
- avoid too much ventilation
In addition to these measures, fungal diseases must be monitored and controlled both with good agronomic practices and with the use of copper salts.
To obtain a good final product, that is, olives intended for oil or the table, it is necessary to keep the plants healthy: maintaining a good phytosanitary state and a balanced supply of nutrients are the basis of productive results.
Balanced pruning carried out at the right time (i.e. during the winter) and balanced agronomic management are essential to avoid stress or excessive plant vigor, production fluctuations and attacks by diseases and phytophagous insects.
How to grow a small olive tree?
- avoid excessive pruning (regular pruning)
- Prune in winter because during this season the xylem, or lymphatic, flow of the plant is reduced to a minimum and therefore the plant is more capable of reacting to the stress of cutting: it reacts better and heals more quickly
- regular fertilization avoiding nitrogen excesses so as not to overdo the foliage
- plant small olive trees not too close to other large plants to avoid competition between trees
To grow healthy and productively, an olive tree also needs:
- macroelements
- microelements
- waterfall
- sun
- light
- fertile soil
- fresh and draining soil
The plant should be kept in a dry area and the best type of soil for the olive tree is medium-textured, fertile and dry.
However, it can also produce well in compact clay soils if adequate water drainage is ensured, and in sandy soils if the necessary water supply is ensured during the summer.
The olive tree adapts well to calcareous (draining) soils.
How to water olive trees
We saw above that this shrub doesn't require excessive watering. In fact, the olive tree grows in arid environments and fears soil moisture much more than dryness.
The most favorable rainfall occurs in spring and summer, when vegetation activity is at its peak.
Watering is essential: there should be neither excess nor stagnant water. Watering should not be done near the base of the trunk to avoid rot and root asphyxiation.
In the cultivation forms, drip or aerial irrigation or sub-irrigation is practiced.
But how much water does an olive tree need?
It depends on:
- the seasonal climate trend
- the production load
- the health of the tree
- the type of soil
How and when to treat olive trees
In modern olive growing, there are a whole series of pathogens and phytophagous organisms capable of causing economic damage to crops.
Referring only to endemic diseases, control must be applied during the cultivation period.
Copper treatments are useful after atmospheric events (such as hail) or after pruning to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
Insect control, on the other hand, depends on monitoring populations, seasonal climate trends, the phenological phase in which the plant is found, as well as the cohorts of beneficial predators present in the field.
The first means of control consists of good agronomic practice , only subsequently is it necessary to resort to the introduction of biological and, as a last resort, chemical control agents.
Finally, the olive tree usually blossoms in the last two weeks of May, but this depends on the seasonal weather patterns and the microclimate.
How far apart should olive trees be planted?
There is no pre-established distance and it is imprecise to speak of distance; it is more correct to speak of density, understood as the number of trees per unit of surface area.
The density or planting pattern depends on the desired production result and the type of soil in which one finds oneself working.
Historically, olive groves had large planting distances that allowed for intercropping with other crops (e.g., vines, cherries, almonds, vegetables, etc.). However, increasingly advanced agricultural specialization and mechanization, as well as the need for early entry into production and for workforce safety, do not align well with the practice of intercropping.
Therefore, now more than ever there is a tendency to have specialized and very dense plantations with narrow spacing and variable densities between 250 and 1500 trees per hectare.
Which olive trees to plant
The best time to plant new olive trees, or transplant new plants, is spring.
Olive trees to be transplanted are usually saplings obtained by grafting or cuttings. Despite the limited genetic improvement program currently available for this crop, there is now a much wider choice than in the past between new and historic varieties from the national olive growing scene.
When it comes to choosing, there are no better or worse plants, nor are there any plants that are more resistant than others.
In fact, in general, going back to the origins of the species, no olive tree tolerates temperatures even slightly below 0.
However, the timing of the temperature drops determines the severity of the damage. Late frosts can severely damage the most hydrated tissues, such as young shoots and buds.
If you are thinking of purchasing an olive tree, we recommend contacting nurseries specializing in productive olive trees.
