May in the olive grove: ongoing flowering, incipient fruits and constant surveillance

In May, the olive grove enters full bloom, with the first visible fruit set, marking a decisive moment in the cycle. Despite these good prospects, June’s physiological fruit drop can still reduce fruit quantity. It is recommended not to intervene on the plant, but to manage the soil to retain water. In addition, pest monitoring, such as for the olive fruit fly, is intensified.

After an April marked by the formation of inflorescences, May places us in the heart of the olive tree’s flowering period. This stage marks a turning point in the annual production cycle, as the first fruit sets begin to appear—an essential step toward the future harvest.

The challenge of June: physiological fruit drop

Despite these good indicators, nothing is guaranteed. May is just the prelude to one of the olive grove’s most decisive natural processes: the physiological fruit drop, also known as the "San Juan drop," which takes place in June.

During this phenomenon, the olive tree sheds some of the fruit it cannot support with its available resources and its ability to absorb water and nutrients. If the number of fruit sets exceeds what the tree can sustain without harming its health, the tree performs a kind of “natural selection,” discarding those that cannot develop properly. Therefore, even if initial fruit set is high, the amount of fruit that will reach harvest remains uncertain.

Agronomic management: minimal plant intervention, maximum soil attention

In this critical phase, it is advisable to minimize plant intervention. Flowering and fruit set are physiologically sensitive processes, and foliar applications should only be carried out in case of specific phytosanitary problems. Ideally, the olive tree should be allowed to complete this stage naturally, without chemical alterations.

Instead, attention should focus on ground cover management. The high temperatures of the coming months will make water an increasingly precious resource. Weeds compete directly with the olive tree for soil moisture, so clearing and suppressing spontaneous vegetation is recommended. This will help conserve as much water as possible for the tree during a time when every drop counts.