Where are we now? The Olive Blossom in Puglia

Olive tree blossoming in Puglia: what's happening in Lidia's lands?

With the arrival of spring, our olive trees awaken from their winter rest and enter one of the most fascinating and crucial phases of their cycle: flowering . It is a moment of great importance for those of us at Terre di Lidia who cultivate olive trees with passion to produce high-quality extra virgin olive oil . The first small white flowers peep out from between the leaves, marking the beginning of a new season full of hope and work.

When do olive trees bloom?

The olive tree blossoms between the end of April and May, depending on the weather conditions and the variety of the plant. The flowers, called mignole , are small, white and gathered in bunches. However, not all flowers will produce fruit: only those that successfully complete the pollination process .

This phenological phase of the olive tree is closely linked to the future production of olives and therefore to the quality of extra virgin olive oil . Observing the balance and uniformity of flowering allows us to estimate the production potential of the year.

Pollination: the role of the wind

Unlike many other fruit trees, pollination of olive trees is not primarily favored by insects. The olive tree is in fact an anemophilous plant , that is, it relies on the wind to transport pollen from one flower to another. This makes the arrangement of the trees within the olive grove fundamental and makes flowering particularly sensitive to adverse weather conditions such as excessive wind, heavy rain or sudden drops in temperature.

Good natural pollination is essential to obtain effective fruit set , that is, the transformation of the flower into fruit. Furthermore, the presence of compatible pollinating varieties can significantly increase production.

An interesting curiosity

Did you know that each olive tree can produce thousands of flowers? Yet, only 1-2% of these actually turn into olives! It is a natural selective process: the plant focuses its energy on a few fruits to ensure optimal development. This strategy allows for healthier olives, rich in nutrients and ideal for producing a balanced and aromatic extra virgin olive oil .

What are we doing in this period in our olive grove?

During the olive tree flowering , our attention is all focused on the health of the plants:

• We carefully monitor the development of the pinkies , evaluating quantity and distribution.
• We check for parasites or diseases such as peacock eye or fungal infections.
• We intervene with targeted irrigation , only if necessary, to avoid water stress in the roots.
• We evaluate the effectiveness of the spring fertilization already carried out, and make any corrections.
• We promote a good balance between vegetation and flowering to improve the final yield of the olives.

All these practices are carried out with care and expertise by our team at Terre di Lidia , because we believe that a good oil comes first of all from a well-tended field.

From flowering to extra virgin olive oil

Abundant and healthy flowering is the first sign of a future production of quality olives. The health of the flowers directly affects the organoleptic characteristics of our Apulian extra virgin olive oil : intense aroma, balance between bitter and spicy, richness of polyphenols and low acidity.

It is also the moment in which some of the sensorial qualities that we will find in the finished product are consolidated: a fragrant, genuine oil, the fruit of constant work and knowledge of the phenological phases of the plant.