Spring is often defined as a period of renewal in nature, and for olive trees, this season is no different. However, it also brings its share of challenges. The olive trees are beginning to wake up from their winter rest and prepare for their future flowering and fruit set*.This is a critical period where the health of the tree and the management of seasonal issues can determine the quality and quantity of the upcoming harvest.
Seasonal Challenges
In spring, olive trees can face several problems. The first is the risk of late frosts which can damage new shoots and flower buds, thereby compromising the harvest. Additionally, fungal diseases such as peacock’s eye or cercosporiosis can manifest with increasing humidity. Pests, including the olive moth, also start to become active and can cause significant damage if uncontrolled.
Three Tips for Caring for Your Olive Trees in Spring
1. Monitoring against frost and water stress
To protect olive trees from late frosts, it’s advisable to limit the height of ground cover. It is also important to prune your olive trees after the frost period to avoid premature budding during the sensitive period. The extent of pruning depends on the possible damage from the current year’s frosts and will help ensure photosynthesis in the branches even at the heart of the tree.
Depending on the variety and layout of the plot (frost-prone area, low-lying areas, bottoms of valleys, among others), the risk of frost is more or less significant. It is also crucial to manage irrigation according to rainfall and dry periods to avoid water stress or excess water. Significant and prolonged water stress can impact the yield of the current year as well as the next (as less vegetative growth will result in fewer fruiting branches next year, hence less production the following year). Conversely, olive trees do not tolerate root asphyxiation due to excess water, so it is essential to rationalize water input.
2. Disease and pest management
Spring is the ideal time to prevent diseases and pest infestations. To do this, it is important to monitor different bio-aggressors to assess the pressure and provide treatments if necessary.
Moreover, managing your irrigation and ground cover to limit the humidity conducive to the development of cryptogamic diseases (diseases caused by fungi) is important. Pruning the tree is also vital to ensure good air circulation around the tree. This pruning sanitizes the tree’s environment, reducing the risk of pressure from bio-aggressors.
In anticipation of your protection needs, now is the ideal time to start researching and planning solutions against the olive fly, such as Cearitis’s Push&Pull solution, to implement at the appropriate time.
Photo credit of Cearitis
3. Fertilization
There is still time to fertilize and amend your orchard. Indeed, a healthy and well-fertilized tree will be less susceptible to pests and attacks and will have a good production/growth ratio.
An application of balanced fertilizer at the beginning of spring can provide the olive trees with the necessary nutrients to support their growth. The fertilizer should be high in nitrogen but balanced with other elements like phosphorus and potassium. To support producers and specifically adopt the necessary doses for their plot, Cearitis has developed agroecological support. Our agronomist conducts various tests and analyzes the nutritional state of the plot and trees to ensure good fruit set and subsequently good fruiting and thus a good yield.
To resum
At Cearitis, we are guided by a holistic vision that recognizes the importance of agroecology and biocontrol in creating sustainable agriculture. Spring is a crucial period for the development of trees, marked by major challenges such as frost, diseases, and pests. By adopting proactive management and ensuring optimal fertilization and irrigation during this season, producers not only protect their crops but also maximize their health and productivity. Actions taken in spring are decisive as they pave the way for a bountiful harvest and reduce later seasonal stress. Our method integrates these aspects with a coordinated response to the four main agricultural issues, ensuring effective and comprehensive management of the plots. Thus, each measure taken is not isolated but contributes to a coherent and interconnected whole, essential for long-term success.
If you want to know more about the olive cycle, we recommend our article to read here