If you want to invest in olives, you have to have patience. Fruiting will start after 5 – 7 years, and will go on increasing over the next 30-40 years.

As olive trees are known to become very old – up to 2000 years – you will be able to harvest for many many years. As the saying goes “ you don’t plant an olive tree for yourself, but for the son of your son”.

What is necessary ? Keep about 15 trees per ropani (300 trees per hectare), in a well drained soil, with a pH of more than 5. Plant the trees when they are about 1 m high, at a distance of approx. 6m.

Temperature should be cold in winter (up to zero degrees is no problem), and summer should be hot. Olive trees grow well on land with little irrigation, but more water will give you more and bigger olives. Depending on the varieties you plant, some trees need a polliniser.

The nursery where you buy your plants will give you all information necessary to care about your trees for the next 5 years. Your people in charge can also get training in our plantation, in some cases free of cost.

Once you start making oil, you will need an olive press not too far away, or you buy one on your own. Return on investment is at least 10 to 15 years.