We have an amazing olive tree that has given us a massive crop pretty much every year since we’ve been here. We estimate it to be at least 10-15 years old, but if it was planted when the house was built it could be up to 30 years old. We planted a secondary olive tree when we first bought this place and this spring has been the first time it has flowered! So next year we should have both trees giving us fruit.
The main olive tree on the left with our new little tree on the right.
The only year the main tree gave us a smallish crop was after we pruned it heavily the previous harvest. Every other year it has given us at least a plastic shopping bag full of olives.
About 2/3 of the crop post pickling.
This, however, has been the first year we have successfully managed to pickle the olives, mainly due to the discovery of Milkwood‘s fabulous how to pickle olives video.
This year's crop, desalted and ready for eating.
Next year’s crop also looks like it is shaping up to be a good harvest.
Olive flowers
Next year's crop - tiny olives
I can’t wait to see what the new tree’s fruit is like. Yum!
Posted by Olive harvest 2011 « suburbanite farm on Apr 25, 2011 at 12:39 am
[…] olive harvest this year was about three times as big as last years! Olives freshly picked Aren't they beautiful? If only they tasted as good as they look fresh […]