Over the years, olive growers have developed different cultivation forms according to their specific needs and the farm area. In fact, the choice of the growing system depends on many factors, such as cultivar and biology of the plant, soil resources and aesthetic target.
Some factors which shall not be underestimated are the economic objectives of the farm, the destination of the olives (for table or oil), the method and the machinery for harvesting and pruning operations. Obviously, the protection of the well-being of the plant is essential and allows to obtain a double result, that is an abundant production and a long life of the plant itself.
What are the most common forms of olive growing today?
The polyconic pot
This form of olive-growing is one of the most used and is characterized by the presence of a single trunk at about 140 cm from the ground, from which the primary branches (from three to six) branch off. These are inclined with angles of about 120 ° and have a pyramid-shaped tree-top, precisely called “cone”. The apex of each branch consists of a single tip, while the vegetative and productive part of the plant will be left mainly at the bottom and on the outer side of the fronds.
The polyconic pot olive-growing form allows a good light penetration through the tree-top and an excellent drupe production. Furthermore, it is suitable for all types of olive-trees and simplifies cultivation operations, which can be performed both manually and by means of mechanized systems. On the other hand, olive trees cultivated in polyconic pots require constant and precise pruning to remain healthy and productive.
The globe
This type of breeding is similar to the polyconic pot, due to the fact that the tree-top grows on a single trunk, at about 1-1.2 meters from the ground. In this case, however, numerous secondary branches branch off from the main ones to form a sort of sphere, while the innermost part of the tree-top is not left empty, as happened in the olive-growing form previously analyzed.
This system is particularly popular in areas where the light intensity is very high, because the dense tree-top manages to protect the trunk and the main branches from excessive radiation, while ensuring the right degree of insolation for each portion of the plant. Frequent pruning is required to be able to sufficiently thin out the foliage and allow light and air to reach each branch homogeneously.
The productive surface is concentrated in the external part of the tree-top and not in the more shaded internal one. One the advantages of this form of olive-growing is its compatibility with mechanical harvesting systems.
The bushy pot
In this form of breeding there is no real trunk and the main branches grow directly from the bottom or from a very short trunk. The system was originally created to be able to recover plants damaged by frosts or fires and, even today, it is effective both for that purpose and for production.
The generally 3 or 4 main branches are inclined in the initial section and then left to grow vertically. The tree-top can be managed in different ways, such as a polyconic pot or with a different structure, always remaining within the sphere of the pot shapes. The olive trees grown in this way are characterized by a low tree-top, which can be easily pruned. Its foliage is usually thicker inside than outside the plant. The trees enter their production phase sooner and this olive-growing form adapts to different olive varieties.
The small height also allows to carry out easy harvesting operations, but harvesting tools and other mechanized methods of plant and soil processing cannot be used successfully.
The monocone
In this form of breeding, the trunk begins to branch out at about 1 m from the ground, making its main branches grow from here. The secondary branches have very wide angles and are placed almost horizontally with respect to the ground, decreasing in length in the upper part of the tree-top. The shape of the olive tree grown with the monocone method is, therefore, close to that of the individual branches of the polyconic pot.
Perfect for cultivars that have an upward vegetative habitus and a low growth potential, this specific form of breeding requires very frequent pruning sessions to contain the lateral and vertical expansion of the olive tree. branches. The tree-top, however, is very regular and is perfect for mechanical harvesting operations.
Monocaule with free tree-top
Also in this form of breeding there is a single trunk from which a tree-top is free to grow according to its own habitus. This system has been created to lower the normal breeding costs, since pruning interventions in the free monocaule tree-top are rare and fast.
The goal of each session should be simply to maintain the central axis of the plant, eliminate aftershoots and thin out any areas of the tree-top that may be too thick. Additionally, harvesting can be done with mechanical shakers, further reducing labor costs and time.
One of the main disadvantages of this breeding form are the plant aesthetics, since it is not particularly neat, and the necessary specialization level of the operator to carry out precise and accurate pruning on the olive trees.
The use of the best tools for harvesting and pruning is a fundamental factor in making every activity efficient. Campagnola offers you excellent products to grow your olive trees productively.
Discover them in our catalog or contact us to receive technical advice and resolve your doubts and questions!