“In scientific literature fertilization in the olive grove is indicated between January and February, but due to climate change it would be worth it anticipate it immediately after collection".
The director of Aipo, the interregional association of olive producers, Enzo Gambin (in the picture) he suggests it by explaining: “At these temperatures the roots still work well, they absorb a lot and the fertilization done now would make it possible to create a deposit of important reserve substances for the plant. Indeed, winters are mild, but then, once the cold arrives, the warming is slow to come. The roots resume feeding the plant at the end of March if not in April, when the soil temperature once again exceeds 10 degrees. So give fertilizers in this period allows a good deposit in the roots, in the stem, in the branches as a protein substance. This, on the other hand, is the last part of floral induction which is completed between November and February and now guarantees a balanced management without competition of nutritious foods it is advantageous, because part of the buds go to flower and part go to wood, creating the right harmony that can help to attenuate the productive alternation”.
Early fertilization therefore, but after having carried out a cupric treatment. "Particular attention as a phytosanitary defense - highlights Gambin - must always be given after the harvest, because we go to remove the olives using mechanical facilitators and create micro-wounds. These favor the penetration of mange, a particularly dangerous bacterium which is increasingly expanding not only in Italy, but in the entire Mediterranean basin. This is why it is important, at the end of the harvest and in any case within a few days, that a phytosanitary treatment is carried out using cupric products as the active substance. On the other hand, fungal parasites are also found in this phase, such as peacock eye, leprosy, plumbing, branch cankers. They are all on the increase due to mild temperatures and long hours of leaf wetness, phenomena which favor their development. Also on these the copper treatments, which have a bactericidal and fungicidal function, are useful".
Last chapter, theand pruning, which someone does right in the collection phase to save time. “They should be avoided – underlines the director of Aipo – at most suckers, suckers and dry branches can be removed. But for the complete pruning interventions it is better to wait until February ".
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