More than 50 Nelson olive growers turned out to hear Marlborough olive pruning expert Adva Webber, lead them through successful olive tree pruning methods, on a grove in Tasman recently. With many olive groves now reaching a significant age the importance of good tree design and maintenance was highlighted.
Adva is originally from Israel where she gained experience in maintaining and managing olive trees, some of which were over 400 years old and spanned eight generations. Four years ago she moved to Marlborough where she and her New Zealand husband Mark own their own grove. Establishing Adama Olives, they now provide services in establishment of olive groves, consulting services and pruning.
She emphasised the tipping of olive trees, from both young to mature trees, to encourage growth, with a focus on training trees in the first three to four years to a desired shape and framework with the aim of achieving maximum fruiting surfaces. For the first 3-4 years grove owners should shape young trees to provide a balance between root system and canopy as gradually as possible to increase fruit bearing and encourage tree strength, and from then on adjusting pruning to cropping needs.
Many designs were discussed, from the conventional or mushroom shape, vase shape, bushy multi-branched, green wall, green roof to designs that enable efficient mechanical harvesting.
Pruning each fruiting tree according to its own needs and conditions was encouraged, while maintaining shape as far as width and height, with a balance between vegetative growth and fertility growth, as well as providing light and air penetration throughout the canopy of the tree.
"And don't give up on the Barnea (variety)" Adva encouraged, "it's a beautiful tree providing good oil and olives. Each type has their own desired shape. You need to understand the needs of the trees, but it's your crop and you need to take control," she advised.
The well prepared and organised discussion was followed by a demonstration including the tools and techniques required for pruning, on a number of olive trees. Tips on tool maintainance, and the importance of anti fungal paint applied to any cut bigger than a width of a small finger were shared, together with the advice not to prune on rainy days.
Adva spent the week after the seminar conducting individual training sessions with Nelson growers at their own groves, and in conclusion she emphasised, "pruning is a gradual process, whereby a good healthy and wealthy tree can be achieved with time and work. Utilise a trees potential by using every branch and leaf to its limit, within the exiting constraints - one can only use what is there."
Thanks to Adva Webber for her time in providing a thoroughly educational and well received pruning workshop.
