2021: What does a wet summer mean for the olive grove?

La Niña is here.

And she's brought rain. A. Lot. Of. It. But, what does that mean for the olive grove?

It means full dams, less irrigation over the summer months and great, juicy table olives. All things to cheer about!

Short term we are hoping for a very hot February and March to convert the water in the fruit into oil. If this doesn't come, it may mean a lean yield for the olives we press for oil. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us!

The long term benefits of La Niña are very exciting. Next year, we expect a good crop of olives due to the lasting effects of this years wet season. Plus, in August we lay straw and duck poo at the base of the trees, to add some nutrients back to the soil. We hope the mulch has slowed the water movement, therefore allowing more to penetrate the soil, all the while carrying the duck poo.

In some respects we are already seeing the effects of this work. In the last couple of months, due to the rain (and possibly duck poo), we've had 250 – 300mm of vegetative growth on the trees beyond the fruit set. A typical year brings us 50ml of growth. Over the next few weeks we will consider a summer prune to contain the new growth.

Likewise, we will be 'skirting' the trees. This is removing the new growth at the base of the trees to ensure they maintain the ideal shape for mechanical harvesting. Normally, we bring sheep into the grove to 'munch and mulch' this foliage. However, this year, they cannot keep up with the growth. So, we will be lending them a helping hand with job!

For now, we sit back and wait for the fruit to get bigger and the sun to convert the water into oil.

Get your hands on some 2020 extra virgin olive oil now. It's a robust style – perfect for those who like a bit of kick.