Olives - Caring Picking, and Obtaining Oil

Olives

Olives are part of the history of the Mediterranean areas. To own them is a source of pride, and a responsibility - for an old one may have been there for 400 years.

On the other-hand we know the value of olive oil, use so much in our cooking, it is a great joy to be self sufficient in the commodity.

Watering

To survive, olives generally only need watering for the first few years, until they are established. After that they can survive on very little water. However, in dry areas, your production of olives will be increased, if you can give the tree a good soak at least once during the summer.
An olive tree that is allowed to be short of water during the summer will let olive production suffer in order for the tree to survive and the production of flowers next year may suffer also. The olive tree is however very resistant to drought and over watering can kill it.

Pruning

As with any fruit tree, it is normal to prune so that the centre of the tree is open to allow light in. In doing this you will also avoid the tree being too tall and difficult to harvest.

Harvesting

The olives (for oil) are normally picked around Christmas time. Common practice is to lay nets on the ground and either pull the olives off by hand or using something like a miniature rake to effectively rake them off. It is common to prune the tree at the same time if necessary, the pruned branches being easier to pick after having been remove from the tree.

Oil Extraction

If you are in an olive growing area, there will be an olive mill not too far away. You can generally take any amount to the mill. They will be taken through a cleaning mechanism, weighed, then stored to wait to be pressed. For small amounts of olives, you will usually simply be given in return, we receive approximately 1 litre of oil for every 6Kg of olives. The oil will have come from an earlier pressing.
If you have a larger crop, enabling you to take at least half a tonne at one time, you may (by prior arrangement) be able to have your olives pressed on the own and receive your own oil back.