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The following should be considered when choosing varieties for the olive grove.
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Availability.
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Whether the aim is to produce oil or pickling/preserved olives, or both.
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Demand for the final product.
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Compatibility with the soil type.
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Growth rate.
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Yield.
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Is the variety predisposed to alternate bearing.
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Oil quality and percentage.
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Demand for the final product.
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Need to blend final product.
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Tree size.
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Yield.
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Is the tree self-pollinating, or will you need to plant pollinators.
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Resistance to frost.
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Resistance to drought.
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Susceptibility to pests and diseases.
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Ease of processing.
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Ease of harvesting.
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Suitability for mechanical harvesting.
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Predisposition of fruit to bruising.
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Flowering, fruiting and ripening times.
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Harvest timing (consider two earlies and a mid, or two mids and a late).
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Availability of labour at harvest time for the variety.
Olive Trees Planted in Australia by Variety (1987-1997)
| Variety |
Oil |
Table |
% |
| Manzanillo |
Yes |
Yes |
31.6 |
| Frantoio |
Yes |
|
16.7 |
|
Mission
|
Yes |
Yes |
14.6 |
| Correggiola |
Yes |
|
11.1 |
| SA Verdale |
Yes |
Yes |
7.8 |
| Hardy’s Mammoth |
|
Yes |
3.8 |
| Nevadillo Blanco |
Yes |
|
2.6 |
| UC13A6 |
|
Yes |
2.6 |
| Kalamata |
|
Yes |
2.3 |
| Barouni |
|
Yes |
1.0 |
| Queen of Spain |
|
Yes |
0.6 |
| All others |
|
|
5.3 |
Source: Estimates from 1997 Primary Industries South Australia Research and Olives Australia data.
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