How much does an olive tree sapling cost, and how many years until it bears fruit?

The olive is a well-known subtropical fruit tree and an important economic tree species, cultivated throughout the world's subtropical regions.So how much does an olive tree sapling cost? How many years until it bears fruit?

How much does an olive tree sapling cost?

1. Mianyang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Sichuan Province

For Hua'ou olive saplings aged 1-2 years, with a plant height of 60-70, 90-120 (cm), the price is 18 yuan/tree;

2. Xinhe Town, Shuyang County, Jiangsu

For olive saplings aged 3-4 years, with a ground diameter of 1.5-2 cm and a height of 60-80 cm, the price is: 68 yuan/tree for purchases of 2 or more, and 62 yuan/tree for purchases of 20 or more;

3. Longwan Town, Qianjiang

For olive seedlings aged 5 years, with a height of 1-2 m and a ground diameter of 1-3 cm, the price is 98 yuan/tree;

4. Suqian, Jiangsu

For green olive seedlings with a ground diameter of 1-1.5, sapling age of 3 years, and a height of 60-80, the price is: 39 yuan/tree for purchases of 2 or more, 36 yuan/tree for purchases of 50 or more, and 29 yuan/tree for purchases of 400 or more.

The above can only serve as a reference, because prices vary with different varieties, places of origin, purchase quantities and other factors.

How many years does an olive tree take to bear fruit?

Grafted olive saplings can bloom and bear fruit 3-4 years after planting, but at this time the amount of fruit is small, with each tree producing only a few kilograms; only after 7 years will they bear fruit normally, and only after 25 years will they reach the full fruiting stage, when the highest-yielding tree can produce more than 500 kg. Different varieties also take different lengths of time to bear fruit.

In addition, the planting time for olive saplings varies and depends on the specific seedling type. Generally, olive saplings are planted around Qingming. If they are nutrient-bag seedlings, they can be planted at any time except winter.

Pruning of olive trees

1. Thinning

Cutting a branch off from its base is called thinning, or removal. This is the most commonly used pruning method for olive trees. Dense, clustered branches are a major characteristic of the olive. To concentrate nutrients in certain branches or buds and preserve flower bud differentiation on the retained branches to promote fruiting, part of the many clustered branches must be thinned out. If they are densely arranged opposite branches, you can cut one branch for every one left. If the branches are still too dense, you can cut one branch for every one left again during the next pruning.

2. Heading back

Heading back is also a commonly used method in olive pruning. Heading back means selecting and keeping a robust outward-facing bud on a longer branch, cutting the outward-growing branch shorter to encourage it to grow new branches, strengthen the vigor of the branching, and differentiate them into fruiting branches. Note that vegetative branches must not be headed back too severely, to avoid excessive shoot growth that wastes nutrients and affects flower bud formation.

When dealing with the pruning of large branches, if thinning and heading back need to be used together, thinning should be done first and heading back afterward, so that the overall density of the branches can be better assessed.

3. Renewal pruning

Renewal pruning is divided into two types: retrenchment and compression. At an appropriate point on a perennial branch of the olive, keeping a robust lateral branch and cutting off its front portion is called retrenchment (renewal pruning); cutting off an upward-growing lateral branch is called compression.

4. Pruning and handling of water sprouts

Water sprouts are also called "fried dough stick" branches. Most grow upright on the trunk, main branches and lateral branches below the pruning (saw) cuts. Some also sprout upright after large branches are damaged, and some sprout from the root crown. Water sprouts grow vigorously, grow fast and branch heavily, disrupting the tree shape and competing with the original branches for nutrients, so they should be analyzed and handled promptly and specifically. Water sprouts sprouting on young trees or fruiting trees should be cut off from the base as early as possible; those growing in empty spots on the original branches can also be headed back at an appropriate length and cultivated as auxiliary branches, then retrenched or cut off after they bear fruit; water sprouts sprouting on old trees can also be retained and cultivated as replacements for old branch renewal.

In addition, if you want high yields from olives, necessary fertilization and topdressing are also indispensable, generally applied between November each year and January of the following year.