Would you like to know when to apply foliar fertilizer in olive trees? If so, don't worry because you've come to the right place to find the answer. And it is that growing this tree is very simple, since it hardly needs cold-hours to produce a large quantity of olives, and it also resists drought without problems.
But of course, if we want it to be perfectly healthy, it doesn't hurt to pay it from time to time.
What is foliar fertilizer?
Foliar fertilizer It is a type of fertilizer that is applied on the leaves. Depending on the brand, there are some whose dose is diluted in water before use, and there are others that are already ready so that the leaves can absorb the nutrients it contains. In the case of the olive tree, its use is especially interesting when you want to increase production and / or it is cultivated in very poor lands.
What nutrients does the olive tree need?
The reality is that all plants need all the nutrients (macro and micronutrients), but not in the same amount. In fact, there are some that can even live in soils where organic matter is rather scarce, as is the case with our protagonist. But for everything to go better than well, you have to know that the olive tree, For about 1000kg of olives to be harvested, you need an average of:
- 15-20kg of nitrogen (N): essential for growth.
- 4-5kg of phosphorus (P2O5): it is very important for better flowering and fruit set.
- 20-25kg of potassium (K20): essential for the tree to have better resistance to frost and drought. It also improves the size and quality of the fruits.
Apart from others that it can absorb from the earth, such as boron or iron.
When is foliar fertilizer applied to olive trees?
It depends on what type of compost it is, but in principle it is applied throughout the vegetative season, that is, from spring to late summer / fall. The leaves of the olive tree respond very well to foliar fertilizer, so it is highly advisable to apply it.
For this, you can use foliar fertilizers that are already sold ready to use, such as this one from here, but it is also advisable to use others such as:
- Crystalline urea: 0,25%. It will provide nitrogen. Apply in spring.
- Potassium nitrate: between 1,25% and 2,5%. It will provide potassium. Apply in the fall.
I hope it has been useful to you 🙂.