Olives

Under proper conditions, an olive tree will begin to bear fruit at approximately five years of age. The olives must be processed for oil or treated with salt if they are to produce table fruit. Mineral nutrition, water management, and planting density are the key factors to achieving yield goals. However, growing conditions will vary from one region to another.

Foliar diagnosis is an excellent method for monitoring fertilization, especially when fertigation is being utilized. As the uptake of mineral nutrients occurs at the root level, fertilizers must be applied close to the roots; either on the soil surface or "side dressed" along the line of the trees, or at approximately 50 cm from the trunk when fertigation drippers are used.