​This month is when we transition into cooler night time temperatures and there will be less heat stress on your trees and need for water.  It’s pretty much ‘steady as she goes/grows’ while the fruit will be bulking up.
The fruit pit will have hardened up in January and now its all about the flesh of the olive growing around that pit. This usually takes about 5-6 months, depending on the variety.  In dry years the fruit will mature earlier as it will in low cropping years.  This early maturity doesn’t necessarily equate to good oil percentage though and in fact early maturing fruit tends to yield less oil.
Marlborough crop levels are looking very good this year so with a heavy load on each tree maturity will be slow and steady.  We have a few months to go yet.
This should be the last month for spraying weeds under the trees.  You want a 60 day with- holding period prior to harvest.  Make sure all those basal shoots are also cut off underneath so it’s a nice clear, flat surface to lay those harvest nets on when the time comes.
Continue to irrigate if you have that facility.  That will help with the growing olive flesh and bulking that up.  This is particularly useful if you want bigger fruit for pickling later.  It does not necessarily mean more oil content though.
 
Shareholdings
We have been getting requests for shares already and as it looks to be a bumper season the interest is sure to increase.
If any shareholders out there want to sell or reduce your shareholding please contact Janine at [email protected] as soon as possible.  A share transfer can be done quickly by email with just a couple of bits of paper to be completed.
 
Harvest 2025
We still have a few months to go before harvest so just to allay any anxiety we will give you information about pressing rates, preparation and what to look for in your fruit in the April Newsletter.  In May we will have Press opening dates and information about the booking system and how to get your fruit pressed.
 
Relax and enjoy the buzz around the region for grape harvest knowing that it will all be well over before your olives are ready to harvest.
 

​Well, the grass is still green and the weeds are still growing as we head into our driest month.  The olive trees have also continued to grow and put out many suckers/basal shoots.  Continue to keep the weeds and grass down around the base of your trees and cut out those suckers before they get too big and harden off.
By now you will have a good idea of your crop load.  Those promising little olives will be well set and unless we get a run of 30 degree days the trees should be well able to hang on to the crop without too much stress. A mature tree may produce anywhere between 10 -30kg of fruit. However, the yield depends on the tree’s age, size, variety and growing conditions so there is huge variation.  Fruit may be evenly spread over the whole canopy or it could be clustered on one side if that got better pollination.

​This is a good month for a leaf analysis if you are concerned about your trees’ nutrition.  The crop has been set and the tree is now focussing on growing that crop so its at its highest nutritional need.  Any glaring deficits will be most evident now.  You can pick up a sample bag from Fruitfed or contact Hills Laboratories to send you a sample pack and instructions.  It’s not something you need to do every year but it is interesting to know what your trees might be lacking and if it’s a quick fix then you could increase your cropping levels for next year.
If you are nuturing young trees then make sure they are well irrigated during this dry month.  Check the new growth for leafroller infestation (they like young plants) and spot spray with an all-purpose insecticide.  Check stakes and ties are not too tight after a lot of new growth.  If you are using spray guards check there is airflow around the trunk and the guard is not causing a ‘glass house’ effect.  Lift guards to keep air moving.
If your trees get through February in good shape then the next few months until harvest will be all just ‘grow baby grow’!!