The secret to producing excellent extra virgin olive oil? A careful management of the olive grove, month by month

To support olive grove owners in Umbria and Tuscany, we offer a practical guide with an annual calendar of the main activities to be carried out in a well-managed olive grove.

Managing an olive grove professionally means understanding the plant’s rhythms, respecting the land’s needs and planning each intervention with precision. In Umbria and Tuscany – lands that symbolise Italian olive-growing excellence – the soil and climate conditions offer an ideal environment, but also require constant care to ensure healthy plants and quality production.

December – March: pruning and winter treatments

With the arrival of cold weather, when temperatures drop steadily below 7°C for at least two weeks, the olive tree stops growing. This is the ideal time to prune, which is essential for keeping the plant healthy, promoting canopy aeration, and ensuring balanced future production.

Once pruning is complete:

• The wood is sorted on the ground, with the larger branches set aside.
• The finer material is shredded to facilitate its reabsorption into the soil.

At this stage, characterised by residual moisture and sparse vegetation, it is advisable to treat the plants with a disinfectant, particularly at the cut points. Application by sprayer helps to prevent the onset of fungal diseases.

April: foliar fertilisation

With the arrival of spring and rising temperatures, olive trees resume their vegetative activity. April is an excellent time to apply foliar fertiliser, which helps support the growth of new shoots and prepare the plant for flowering.

May – June: monitoring the olive fly

Between late spring and early summer, it is necessary to monitor one of the main enemies of olive growing carefully: the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae). This insect can seriously compromise the quality and quantity of production.

During this period, it is essential to:

• prevent infestations that could cause irreversible damage to the fruit.
• carry out constant checks,
• take prompt action using authorised methods and products,

June – October: phytosanitary and biological treatments

During the growth of the drupes (i.e. the fruit of the plant), between June and October, targeted treatments are carried out against:

• fungal diseases,
• new potential attacks by the olive fly.

For sustainable land management, we recommend natural products that are permitted in organic farming, in line with modern, environmentally friendly cultivation practices.

October – November: harvesting

The most eagerly awaited time of the year arrives between October and November: the olive harvest and its immediate pressing in the mill. Suppose all the previous steps have been carried out correctly. In that case, the harvest becomes a real celebration, producing a high-quality extra virgin olive oil that is fragrant, balanced and capable of representing the lands of Umbria and Tuscany at their best.

To achieve optimal results in the management of your olive grove, each intervention must be planned and customised according to the specific characteristics of the land.

For more in-depth advice, you can count on our industry professionals, thanks to the Great Synergy partner network, who are ready to provide you with technical support, practical advice and tailor-made solutions to maximise the quality, yield and sustainability of your olive production.