The Requirement to Grow Olives in South Africa

How long does it take for the olive tree to bear fruit?

You should begin to see fruit on your olive tree after three years. In terms of production, don’t be surprised if your tree seems to take every other year off. Olives are described as alternate-year-bearing species and typically have a year of heavy fruit production followed by a year of lighter production.

How long do olives take to grow?

Your olive tree may never fruit, but if it does it will take at least four years for the tree to be mature enough. Harvest the olives in late autumn. If you’ve ever eaten an olive straight from the tree you will understand why they need to be cured.

How many olives does a single tree produce?

A mature olive tree will produce about 15 to 20 kilograms (33 to 44 pounds) of olives each year. Considering, it takes about five kilograms of olives to make a liter of oil, one tree is capable of producing only about three to four liters of oil per year a small output by any measure.

How big do olive trees grow in South Africa?

The mission varietal is popularly planted in South Africa and is in fact widely adaptable. It’s well-suited to home gardeners and black olive productions and olive oil. A fully grown olive tree can reach more than six meters in height, while young olive trees will thrive in a pot.

Do olive trees need a lot of water?

Although Olive trees are very drought resistant.  Nonetheless, they still require water to survive. When establishing an olive tree, keep the soil moist, yet not saturated. Water an establishing olive tree once weekly for the first year or anytime the top 2” of soil becomes dry.

How do you care for an olive tree in South Africa?

The olive basically requires a well drained, well aerated soil which has been prepared according to recommended guidelines to a depth of at least 80 cm before planting. Production on shallower soils will be disappointing, while trees on wet or waterlogged soils are susceptible to asphyxia and root diseases.