Cultivation in the olive grove

How much oil does an olive tree produce?

Based on the experience of our olive farmers and data from the last ten years, a tree aged between 20 and 100 years yields around 4 to 12 litres of oil from 40 to 90 kg of olives. For early-harvest oils from a very early harvest, this amount is considerably lower and settles at 1 to 1.5 litres per tree.

What the yield depends on

• Age and size of the tree crown
• Irrigated or non-irrigated location
• Weather conditions over the year
• The fluctuating harvest yield (alternate bearing)

Age and crown size

A newly planted olive tree produces nothing at first. Saplings are about one metre tall when purchased; four to five years pass before the first harvest. During this time the farmer ensures a branch-free trunk of at least one metre – so that mechanical harvesting is possible later – and establishes three main branches that shape the crown. Depending on water availability, the absence of disease and frost, and proper fertilisation, a tree reaches its maximum production level after 15 to 20 years.

Traditional and intensive groves

In traditional olive groves with fewer than 200 trees per hectare, the trees stand far apart and grow correspondingly large. The amount of oil per tree is higher. The limiting factor here is not space but water availability. In intensive groves with 300 to 400 trees per hectare, neighbouring trees limit the crown. Less oil is produced per tree – but usually more per hectare.

Irrigation or dry farming

The olive grove was traditionally dry-farmed and bears fruit even without irrigation. Irrigation increases the amount of oil but must happen at the right time: it makes sense as a substitute for missing spring and autumn rains. Additional water in autumn can be counterproductive: once the olive changes colour in October, fatty acid synthesis stops, and every extra drop of water only ends up in the fruit, making extraction in the mill more difficult later.

Weather conditions

• No severe winter frosts and above all no late frosts in spring – they destroy the already developed buds for the coming harvest.
• Temperature at flowering: flowering falls in mid-May. Excessive heat causes the blossoms to dry out and significantly reduces the yield.

Grove care and pruning

Pruning is a perennial topic among farmers – and it is essential. The goal is a tidy, airy crown that lets enough sunlight reach as many fruits as possible. In addition, there is fertilisation and plant protection, tailored to soil and location.

Fluctuating harvest yield

After a large fruit production, the olive tree naturally takes a break: a bountiful harvest is usually followed by a weaker one. This is reinforced by late harvesting and nutrient deficiency, particularly phosphorus.