Did we tell you that we are growing olives?
Growing olive trees is (mostly) low maintenance. Yet it takes around 5 years to get enough olives (masline) on your trees to produce enough olive oil to last you the year. So that is why back in 2010, we decided to plant olives in Croatia, on land we inherited as an investment for future olive oil (maslinovo ulje) production and, more importantly, consumption.
We now have almost 50 trees and plan to plant another 20 trees in the near future. We have planted a Croatian olive variety called the Orkula, also known as Oblica, depending on where you are from. These olive trees produce large olives, which makes them easy to pick when harvesting.
Unfortunately for us, we have another 2 years to wait before we start getting enough olives to make oil. Until then, I hope you enjoy the wander through our olive garden in these photos.
You can also read our expat adventures in winemaking and or why not take a look at one of the tasty Croatian recipes we’ve shared.
Have you ever grown olives? Any tricks you’d care to share?
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Looks lovely! Lots of olive growers in Istria are having a bad season because of some pesky pests!
Yup, the damn worms! They are here also. Sad, sad, sad….
Beautiful photos. And lucky you, how amazing to make your own olive oil. I am growing more envious of your Croatian life by the day!!
When the house is finished, feel free to head over and join us.
I planted two masline 3 or 4 years ago and they haven’t grown very much still, so sorry I don’t have any “tricks” to share. I do, however, have access to the olives from mature groves belonging to friends.
Damn, I hope ours grow. Do you remove the weeds / grass from around base? I’ve learnt that, that is a good way to help them grow. Until then, enjoy the oil from your friends I say :)
I love olives so much and would probably explode to see your fantastic garden. I know we joke about it- but I really would like to swing in for a visit if we can ever get it together and plan a trip there!
Yes, we should arrange something of some kind. I’d suggest you stay in Europe AT LEAST one more year, then you can come and stay at our house and have the 2 guest rooms for you and the boys and we can walk across the road to the beach and sip on home made wine.
How cool is it that to have all those olive trees and you can snack on them and make your own oil. I never realized how much maintenance and patience it seems to grow one. I’m loving reading all about your country life.
Thanks Mary, I feel so blessed with my life right now & even more os that others are enjoying sharing the journey with me. Thanks for coming back xx
Incredible photos! I’d love to grow olives :-)
Splendid photos! I am jealous of the space, I wish we could grow the olive trees. Beautiful, simply beautiful!
Hvala {thanks} Galina
Can’t offer any tips, I’m afraid – We have one olive tree which provides us sufficient fruit to preserve & eat. Good luck with yours! x
Sue, how do you preserve yours? Any links?
Looks great! We only planted one olive tree last year. No olives on it yet, so no tis from this side ;-)
Hopefully we can give you a tip then… it 2 years that is.
I love your olive fields! How wonderful 2015 will be when you can begin to produce oil! :-)
Kenley
I know!!! Seems so very far away right now though.