Enjoy a nice glass of your favourite tipple. Make your New Year’s resolution to achieve even better results from your grove this coming year.

Continue to irrigate as necessary.

Soluble boron spray by the end of the month.

Growth is very strong now, assist young trees with good tree training,

(see note 3 December)

The strong growth on your older trees may necessitate re staking and retying.

Ensure any young newly planted trees are well watered at this period is the most stressful on the juveniles, until they get their roots down.

By the end of this month young tiny olives should be appearing on your two and three year trees ( really exciting times).Take some time out this month for a break. Most areas of N.Z from Central Otago north have a few groves so go visiting and spread the good news about olives to all you meet this summer. Encourage everybody about the passion and the joy of the good oil

Continue to mow grass.

Watch for those stubborn perennial weeds and keep them away from around tree bases.

This is a good month to do leaf analysis.

Irrigate as and when necessary.

Check for leaf roller infestation on younger plants.

Check stakes.  As growth comes on retie as necessary, especially after very strong winds.

Trim any unruly or rogue branches to keep plants in good shape.

Last major fertilizer application if you are in a cold area.

Check spray guards to ensure they are not buried in the ground causing a glasshouse effect.  Lift guards to keep air moving.

Grass growing strongly.  Keep mowing.

Spray weeds later in month.

Spray this month with copperfor prevention or Score to control peacock spot.

Continue irrigating if needed

Start planning your harvest and make contact with local press person to book in suitable time for your fruit.

Check those ties and stakes

Trim off any basal shoots sprouting at tree base.

Time to consider new plantings and tree orders.

Last chance for fertilizer spread.

Continue to mow grass to make life easier for yourself at harvest time.

Final chance to spray weeds before harvest.

Last real chance for spraying to control peacock spot, as you do not want to taint the fruit.

Helpers for harvest should be organized.

All harvest equipment should be checked and cleaned – bins, buckets, rakes, etc.

Check varieties to ensure any out of place varieties are clearly marked to avoid mixed fruit at harvest time.

Start monitoring your early fruiting varieties – you may have to harvest earlier than you think

Ensure your grass is mown and area is clear and clean around your trees for an easier harvest.

Harvest only if you are sure your press operator can handle your crop within a 2-day period preferably.   Quick turnaround equals quality oil.

Store fruit in well-ventilated plastic containers or crates and avoid damage or spoiling of fruit.

When storing (only for brief periods) ensure it is a cool dark place.

Transport quickly and smoothly to your press operator in a well-ventilated container.

Harvesting is one of the most expensive operations. Efficiency is important, and you don’t have to take every last fruit

Try to do a little damage as possible.

Ripe fruit is easier to harvest

Timing of ripeness of the fruit will determine the character of the oil produced

Green fruit or early picked fruit will produce fruity oil. When pickling the timing is considered right when the fruit is best size and color but dependent on variety.

This month will be your busiest period as you continue to harvest.

Check your already harvested trees for any signs of peacock spot, infections and spray if necessary.   Look for sooty blotches and greenish-black circular spots ringed yellow.   It is a cool weather fungus.

As fruit continues to ripen watch for bird damage.   During mid-winter your soil is usually at its wettest.   Check for bad drainage areas and improve where necessary.  

Wet and wind will cause loose stakes to slap around.   Check for firmness and tighten where required.

Last of harvest time.

Post harvest.   Sit back and enjoy a well-earned rest.

Some may be pickling a few of your riper olives and larger fruit.   You can store them in a weak brine solution until you have sufficient to make up your requirements.

Rabbits often show their presence at this time of the year and dig around the tree roots.   A good trick is to mound up some rocks around to prevent any damage.

Hares also snip at the low branches and cause some damage.   Try some Replent or lead poisoning.

Continue to keep persistent weeds free of the younger trees.

It is a good time to evaluate shelter.   Have you enough?   This month is an excellent time for planting the many attractive species available.

Drainage.   Good month to improve your drainage if you have a few wet spots

Fertilizer time - Your first of season applications should be applied by end of this month in areas not prone to spring frosts

While ground is still soft prepare any replacement tree or new planting holes

New planting preparations like ripping, organising stakes and ties.

Good month to shift any olives to new homes.   Larger trees may need approximately 1/3 top and sides removed to help in re-establishments.

Check stakes and ties.   The winter winds and wet may have made all a bit too loose.   Retie as necessary but not too tight.   You may have to loosen a few with the last season growth anyway to avoid the tie cutting into the wood.

Start pruning in areas not subject to hard spring frosts.   Remember to seal major cuts with a reputable pruning paste such as Bacseal.

Grass and weeds will start to flourish.   Keep mowed and well sprayed.

Grass & weed growth is very strong, keep in check or they can quickly get away on you as well as not only stunt growth but interfere with pollination by restricting air movement.

Planting can be carried out in areas not subjected to hard spring frosts.

Main pruning should be taking place - ensure good hygiene by cleaning all pruning equipment between trees by dipping into a bleach or Jeyes fluid. This will reduce the risk of spreading any infections.

Pruning should be carried out on dry days and later in the morning when plant material is a lot drier.   This will also help stop infection spread.

Ensure your irrigation is up and running and all leaks and blockages are fixed.

 This is a bit limiting as a abatement perhaps starting at 45grams and increasing by about 50% of the previous years each year for 7 years  and then repeat this much every year .Remove soil or mulch that had been placed up the trunks of young trees in colder regions.

If the tree is damaged by cold weather, wait until new growth appears in the late spring before removing dead or damaged parts.

Main planting month.   Ensure trees are well watered in pots the day before planting.   Water again once planted.   Stake well - do the job right first time.   Avoid too much root disturbance.

Continue the grass mowing and any necessary weed control.

Keep your eyes peeled for scale and leaf roller.   A handy tip is to have a small sprayer handy for the odd attacks, as it may not be necessary to do the lot.

Hopefully earlier control of peacock spot should have kept it in check.   Keep your eyes open.

The strong winds can play havoc this time of the year.   After a good “blow” revisit the younger staked trees for retying etc.

This month is an important time for an application of a soluble boron spray.   This will help with flower and fruit set later.

On larger more established trees suckers can appear down near ground level, good time to remove.

Continue any last major pruning required.

The month to plant for the colder areas of the country provided irrigation is in place to get the trees through summer and autumn.

Final chance for hard pruning if you live in the colder regions.

Grass growth is very vigorous this month. Keep well cut and short.

Weeds are there again. Spot spray or grub to keep the ground clear beneath.

Fertilizer can be applied again if you are on schedule with your programme. Apply 55 grams nitrophoska blue on to the young non croppers. Avoid the trunk base, spread  around the drip zone. Boron spray earlier in the month.

Have you checked your irrigation system is working satisfactory? As your trees have grown larger you may require additional sprinklers/ drippers to encourage lateral root growth.

At this time of the year it is a good time to check each tree as to its general health. An extra shot of fertilizer may be all that is required

Spring brings out an influx of rabbits. Control now for less damage to your trees’ trunks and roots next winter. In two years a pair of rabbits can breed and breed and breed up to 1,000! of the little varmits.

Usually a quiet month with your plants coming into and promising a profusion of flowers with a bumper crop to come. Pray for some warm fine days.

With softer growth starting to appear some light trimming now may save some more major cuts later. Remember to keep an open habit for better light penetration.

If you feel you could improve on your trees’ shape, a good trick is to place a few spacers between branches to open then up. Short flat timber pieces notched at both ends will hold stems apart. House hold pegs can help on young trees. this is a good time while stems & branches are soft and pliable.

Tiping new growth to encourage the young tree to grow lower and with better braching , as well as removeing any unwanted water shoots in the middle of the tree.

Keep mowing but it should be slowing down by now.

Irrigation is important from now on. Try to water mornings or evenings.

For future reference note your flowering times of your varieties. This may be important for future pollination checks

As Xmas approaches you may have an influx of friends and relatives. Get all your jobs up to date before they arrive and invite them back for harvest.