Olive grove. Autumn treatment

In this article we are talking about the third phytosanitary treatment in the olive grove this year. Since, we have already shown you the fruit set (June) and pre-flowering (April). On this occasion, we go with the autumn season, which in addition to nutrition, we are taking advantage to prevent some diseases such as the olive fly. In each treatment, the products we use to optimize the growth and development of the olive tree and the olives are different, always following the recommendations of our advisor Rafael Navarro. This time the treatment is based on copper and potassium sulphate, although we use other products to help nourish the tree and fatten the olives.

This autumn treatment is usually takes place in October, but this time we had to advance it until the end of September as we have had rain and the humidity could bring forward the arrival of the olive fly. In this respect, we have carried out a preventive treatment with the product Sikori (from Tradecorp) based on the active ingredient Acetamiprid. As you can see in the photos, the olives this year look superb... or maybe they did.

We say they had, because a few days ago we had some hail and many of the olives fell to the ground and others were damaged. We believe that it was not a major problem, but it will certainly have an impact on this year's yield, which seemed to be optimal. The last pictures show the state of the olives after the hail.

After this, there is little work left until the harvest: some manure spreading on some fields and soil management to control weeds... We will show you this work and give you a summary of the year.

Versión en español.

Olive grove. Sprouting treatment

After the pruning tasks we explained in the previous post, we beggin the annual foliar treatments. In this case we do it with the sprouting or pre-flowering treatment with the unique aim of providing nutrition. 

During the year we carry out three or four foliar treatments in the olive grove whose objective is to nourish the tree and, although sometimes, the treatments also help to prevent or cure some disease, its main goal is nutritional. These tasks begin with the first one performed in the second half of April once the pruning task is finished. After the winter cold and pruning, the olive tree begins its activity again and therefore begins to sprout. It is essential to provide the ideal nutrition for optimal germination, which will be the first step towards a good harvest in December. 

Finally, regarding the machinery used in these tasks, we must be focussed on the mistblower. In our case it is a Hardi Zaturn 2000 which allows us to work with absolute comfort since it incorporates a sonar system able to detect the olive tree that therefore allows us to save product, making treatment much more efficient. The dose of water used is around 500 l/ha, although this varies according to the volume of the olive tree crown, planting frame,... it is not the same quantity required for an olive tree that has been planted for many years or for a newly planted olive tree. It is a very convenient task that we perform very quickly. We remember when we used our old 600 litre sprayer and we had to walk two people with the guns... now one person can do it more efficiently, quickly and comfortably.

Versión en español.