Olive Grove Update

One of the best things about planting a fruit tree is making a mark in time.  I had wanted to do this for so long (ten years) that if I had planted them then, we would now have a grove in full production - but all things happen when the time is right.  Over a year has now passed since we planted our olives along swales excavated on contour.  We have done ... well, nothing much since then really.  I haven't even watered them over these extremely hot days.

Trunks have thickened nicely and branches are starting to spread which is a good sign of plant health and root development.  Given the small size of the plants, I don't believe the root systems are taking advantage of the water harvesting capabilities of the swales just yet - but in time that will come.  This healthy development would mainly be due to the soft topsoil (including grass matter that would be rotting underground).  This is a great result for an area with such poor soils.

Interesting enough, the cape weed that was there in the early spring protected the trunks from rabbits and now that it has died back, it has become almost a form of mulch that has eliminated any competition from other forms of vegetation.   As the trees mature, it is my intention to introduce animal systems, although for the moment this 'weed' cycle has accidentally benefited these trees.

In two to three years time we should have enough olives to harvest and sell oil to our growing customer base.  How wonderful will it be for those of you who have followed us on this journey to try olive oil from this very grove!

An investment in time that will hopefully pay dividends to our future health.