History
In 1896, Raffaele Costa, the eldest of three brothers, from Genoa, arrived in South Africa, with the intention of establishing a nursery in Newlands, Cape Town, where he purchased a 4 hectare plot, which soon became profitable.
Fun Facts
A perfectly preserved carved olive-stone boat was crafted by artist Ch’en Tsu-chang during China’s Ch’ing dynasty. It was carved in 1737 and is a mere 3.4 cm (1.34 inches) in length and 1.6 cm (0.63 inches) tall
Guide to Plant Olive Trees
Before you begin planting, it is important to consider the climate and soil conditions in your region to ensure that your olive trees will thrive. With proper care and maintenance, your olive trees can provide you with a bountiful harvest of fresh olives for many years to come.
Diseases
Olive tingit – Plerochila australis (Lace Bug) is a small grey-brown sucking insect about 4mm in length. They feed on the underside of leaves by sucking the plant sap, destroying the leaf tissue. As a result yellow spots appear on the leaf or, in the case of heavy infestation; the whole leaf turns yellow
Leaf and Soil Analysis
Leaf tissue analyses provide excellent information to guide a grove’s fertilization program. Late December through to early February are the months to take olive leaf samples for analyses of the grove’s nutrient status in the Summer rainfall areas. I
Irrigation
There are many myths about olives circulating amongst first time growers and enthusiasts as people rush to get into another growing agricultural industry. One of the classic bits of misinformation that inevitably arises is that the “olive tree will grow anywhere and does not need irrigation”.
Soil
The five elements that form the foundation of most soils are: calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K),sodium (Na), and aluminum (Al). Calcium is the most important element for olives.
Collecting and Planting
When collecting your trees personally from the nursery, always make sure that a covered vehicle is used (or shade netting is available to cover them completely) trees will suffer from windburn if exposed. The fast growing tips are soft plant tissue and must be cared for.
Olive Trees
Start your future NOW! Olive Trees are available from O.S.A. Only the best genetic material is used to propagate the young olive trees. Young trees are grown with a single stem in the nursery to make them more suitable for single leader training as well as open vase systems.
The Importance of Choosing the Correct Cultivar
It is of critical importance to decide on the correct cultivar before planting. If the incorrect cultivar is planted it can lead to thousands of rands worth of damage