Small quick growing evergreen with spreading growth. Clusters of white fluffy flowers in early summer followed by heavy yields of medium sized fruit in autumn with good oil content. Frost tolerant.

Use

Excellent for oil and pickles.

Food Value

High in anti-oxidants.Olive oil reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol.

Planting

Olives will grow in most soil conditions providing adequate moisture is given during flowering and fruit set. Additional water through summer will make the fruit larger and more suitable for pickling. Stake well to prevent wind damage while young.

Care

Train the tree to an open vase shape.Fertilise tree in autumn and again in spring with a balanced fertiliser. Overseas experience shows that Olives respond to nitrogen suppliments well ahead of flowering, but New Zealand tends to have higher than average naturally occuring nitrogen, so care should be taken when selecting and applying fertilisers.

Harvest

For pickling pick when olive changes fron green to green/yellow or when black. For oil pick when black. Manzanillo is one of the largest fruited varieties available in New Zealand.

Pollination

Self-fertile, although higher yeilds will be achieved by planting another dual purpose variety.