How and when to harvest olives? Calendar and best practices to copy from the pros

The arrival of autumn means the beginning of the olive harvest. That is why today we will look at the best times, as well as the best practices to do so. And since with the harvest comes the preservation of any fruit and vegetable, we will give you valuable advice on how to preserve olives. Find out how and when to harvest olives in the following lines.

Here’s how and when to harvest olives

October is the month of olive ripening.

When to Pick Olives: Here’s What the Experts Recommend

To be able to enjoy high quality olives, you need to know how to pick them at the right time with the right technique. As for the best time, know that according to the experts at Gerbeaud, it is “It is difficult to give a precise indication of the most suitable period for harvesting”because the harvest is done at different times depending on the variety, climate and use of the fruits. Specialists also explain that “Olives have a somewhat long maturation process, during which, when they have finished thickening, their color changes, going from green to reddish-purple, then to dark purple and, finally, to black”. This phenomenon is called veraison. It is during this process that not only the color changes, but the taste also evolves.

Olives must be picked at the right time

October, when the grape harvest is over, it is time to harvest the olives. It is also the month of the veraison of the olives (they start to turn from green to black) and it is therefore the right time to harvest the green olives! So, we harvest the olives for preserving in September and October if we prefer green fruits. For those who like black fruits, we pick them between November and March. The latter are ideal for making oil too, because they “then contain the maximum amount of fat” And as the saying goes: “On Saint Catherine’s Day, the oil is in the fruit,” explain the experts at Jardiner malin.

Here’s when to harvest green olives and black fruits

In addition, there are two methods of harvesting these fruits: by hand, on the tree and picking from the ground. But, whatever method you plan to use, know that you must harvest the olives that are on the trees. You never harvest the fruits that were already on the ground and have remained there for several days.

There are different methods for harvesting olives.

Hand picking

In some regions, hand picking is still the preferred method. However, it is important to know that these are of course table olives. This method allows you to choose the most beautiful specimens, not to damage them during harvesting and to leave the olives that are not yet ripe on the tree.

Hand picking is done using a ladder or trestle, a rake or comb and a net that is spread on the ground.

Here’s how to do manual picking using a comb

Pick up from the ground

Here, again, you have to install a net on the ground. You can harvest using a pole, being careful not to hit the fruit, or an olive comb. On large estates, producers vibrate the tree trunks. This allows for much larger harvests. However, keep in mind that this is only done when you have the means to make olive oil as quickly as possible, because the important thing is to use only fresh fruit. The ideal, according to the pros, is to harvest during the day and extract the juice in the evening.

Don’t forget to put a net on the ground

After the olive harvest, it’s time for canning. And I’ll give you the technique I’ve always used.

Here’s how to keep fruit longer

1. Start by soaking the olives in fresh water (renew every morning for 15 days).
2. Prepare the brine by boiling water with salt, at a rate of 100g of salt for 1L of water. Turn off the heat, cover and let cool.
3. Place the olives in sterilized jars and once the brine has completely cooled, pour it over the fruit in the jars until it covers them.
4. Add aromatic herbs to taste and leave in closed jars for at least a month so that the olives absorb the aromas.
5. After opening, keep refrigerated.

Step-by-step guide to successful canning

Enjoy these fruits for as long as possible

Here’s how and when to harvest olives