Olivery News — kalamata

Here is a picture from today of Kalamata Olive tree 'H4' or 'Heddie' as Eddie its owner likes to call it.  We are pleased to report that this tree is flourishing.  You can see the new growth rising 600mm above the stump. Eddie has chosen well!  The next picture is of F8, our 'slow starter'.  Transplanted in October at the same time as the rest of the trees, this tree is the last to sprout.  You can just see on the right hand side of the tree a small shoot - approx 20mm long.  This is especially pleasing as it...

Eddie is our youngest olive tree adopter.  His recent visit (Oct 2013) was soon after our transplanting of the Kalamata Olives.  We tracked his tree from its old location to new.  It has a new number (H4) and Eddie has appropriately named it 'Heddie'. We gave Eddie the choice of new tree but he chose to stay with this one.  Well done Eddie we like your loyalty! We are pleased to report that 33 of the 34 transplanted trees are growing well with plenty of new growth.  One has not sprouted yet, but we are remaining positive!   'Heddie' at...

What's up on the grove?.   We've had one of the best springs for 25 years.  It has been warm, regular rain and gentle winds.  This has facilitated a fantastic fruit set on the trees.  (Fruit set is a terms used for the conversion of flowers to fruit.)  so things so far are looking good.  The last couple of weeks have had some severe Hail storms in the Hawke's Bay.  This has damaged some fruit crops.  We have been lucky in that they have missed our olive groves. The transplanted Kalamata Olives (right) are starting to grow with little shoots...

Time will tell whether this was a good decision or not.  I've moved every second Kalamata tree to increase the space it has to grow, so that it will grow larger, produce more fruit and be happier! First we had to chop the tops off them. This ones ready to move.  We labelled each one to keep track of the adopted trees.  Dig them up with a digger.   Plant them in pre dug holes.    Some water and this olive tree is ready to grow.    Unfortunately some didn't make it.  This one we ring barked so we decided...