Olive trees are valued worldwide for producing a source of liquid treasure: olive oil. However, a question that often arises is: how much oil can a single olive tree produce?
Generally, to produce 1L of olive oil, between 4 and 5kg of olives are needed. In this preparation, the fruit yield is around 20-25%. That is, for every 5kg of olives that are processed, around 1L of olive oil is obtained. This performance is even lower when it comes to producing quality extra virgin olive oil. Between 8 and 10kg of olives are needed to make 1L of oil, lowering its yield percentage to 10%.
Olive oil is beloved worldwide for its delicious flavor and versatility in cooking. But with an average yield of only 3-5 liters per tree producing olive oil requires many trees. So how many olive trees are needed to make a worthwhile amount of olive oil?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore olive tree fruit production, oil yields, and estimates for commercial groves and home growers. We’ll also look at optimal conditions and factors impacting oil quantity.
Olive Fruit Production Per Tree
On average a mature olive tree yields 15-20 kg (33-44 lbs) of olives annually. Olive trees start bearing fruit after 5-8 years reaching peak production around 20 years old. Yields decline after 50 years, but trees can remain productive for centuries.
Production depends on climate, variety, farming methods, and the health and age of trees. Well-cared for trees in ideal growing conditions can produce up to 50 kg (110 lbs) per year.
So while olive trees live long lives, their fruit production from an individual tree is modest.
Olive Oil Yield Per Tree
It takes approximately 5 kg (11 lbs) of olives to produce 1 liter of olive oil. So each olive tree yields about 3-4 liters (3.1-4.2 quarts) of oil per year. Top producing trees may yield up to 5 liters (1.3 gallons).
With standard 500 ml bottles, one olive tree produces around 6 bottles of olive oil annually. The oil content of olives averages between 10-20% by weight.
Estimating Number of Trees for Commercial Production
Large commercial olive oil operations require many trees to produce sizeable volumes. Some estimates:
- An acre of olive trees contains about 100-150 trees.
- 1 hectare (2.5 acres) contains at least 200-300 trees.
- An olive grove with 500 trees produces around 2,000 liters (528 gallons) of oil.
- At 3 liters per tree, 1,000 trees yield 3,000 liters (793 gallons).
- A grove with 10,000 trees can produce 30,000 liters (7,925 gallons).
- Large farms may have over 100,000 trees.
So the greater the number of trees, the higher the potential olive oil output for the annual harvest.
Ideal Conditions for Maximizing Olive Oil Production
To improve yields, olive growers should provide:
- Well-draining, fertile soil for robust tree growth.
- Consistent moisture and irrigation where dry.
- Sunny sites with minimal winter frost.
- Protection from strong winds that desiccate trees.
- Regular fertilization, pruning, and pest control.
- Harvest timing when oil content peaks.
- Gentle mechanical harvesting to minimize bruised fruit.
- Quick processing within 24 hours of harvest.
Meeting olive tree needs results in larger fruit quantities and greater oil production.
Factors Impacting Olive Oil Yields
Several variables influence the possible olive oil volume:
- Tree variety – some cultivars naturally higher producers.
- Tree age – peak production around 20 years old.
- Climate and region – warmth and sun improve yields.
- Soil conditions – poor soils limit yields.
- Farming methods – impacts tree health and fruit quality.
- Crop maintenance – proper care enhances yields.
- Harvesting care – gently handled fruit has higher oil.
- Processing method – quality equipment maximizes oil extracted.
Consider all these factors when estimating potential olive oil output.
Yield for Small-Scale Home Production
For home growers with just a few olive trees:
- Expect 3-5 liters (0.8-1.3 gallons) of oil per tree.
- 5-10 trees can provide enough for a family’s yearly needs.
- Small harvests must be processed at commercial mills.
- Coordinate timing with neighbors for efficiency.
- Weigh olives before pressing to estimate oil yield.
- Oil yield averages 16-18% for hand-harvested batches.
Just a few backyard trees may provide sufficient oil for personal use.
Pressing Olives Into Olive Oil
To produce olive oil from the harvested olives:
- Olives are crushed into paste using stone mills or steel presses.
- Paste is spread on mats and stacked in hydraulic presses to separate liquids from solids.
- Liquids contain both oil and water, separated by centrifuge or decanting.
- Oil may be filtered before grading and bottling.
Proper equipment and handling optimizes the oil extracted from the olives.
Maximizing Yield Through Pruning
Regular pruning also helps maximize olive yields by:
- Removing old wood and encouraging fruitful new shoots.
- Improving light and air penetration for tree health.
- Balancing growth and directing energy into fruiting.
- Facilitating harvest with open canopies.
- Renewing old trees by severe pruning.
- Managing pests and diseases.
Along with other cultivation methods, pruning sustains olive productivity.
On average, a mature olive tree can produce 3-5 liters of oil annually. However, yields vary considerably based on climate, cultivar, tree age, and growing conditions. For personal use, 5-10 backyard trees may suffice. But commercial groves require tens of thousands of trees across many acres to generate substantial olive oil quantities. With optimal horticultural practices, olive trees continue yielding delicious oil for generations.
Factors that Influence the Production of Olive Oil:
There are several factors that can influence the amount of oil that an olive tree produces. These factors are:
1. Variety of Olive: Depending on the variety of olive, its oil yield will be different. For example, varieties such as Picual, Arbequina and Hojiblanca are known for their unique production characteristics thanks to their high fat content (over 20%), which makes them capable of producing more oil. While varieties such as Hojiblanca or Manzanilla Villalonga have a lower yield, although of quality. 2. Climate and Cultivation Conditions: Climate, altitude and other environmental aspects can influence the health of the olive tree and therefore influence its oil production. In areas with a warm Mediterranean climate such as Andalusia and the Valencian Community, the yield of olives is higher compared to cold and sunless areas. However, if there are periods of frost or drought in these warm areas, the yield of the olive trees is much lower, and may become invalid. 3. Age of the Olive Tree: The age of the olive tree also plays an important role. When an olive tree is born until it reaches 6 years old, the amount of olives it produces is relatively low because it is still forming. It is when it reaches its maturity period, between 6 and 19 years, when its quantity of olives increases and, therefore, it can produce more oil. However, older olive trees, such as centenary and millennial ones, produce a smaller amount of olives due to their advanced age of maturity. However, these fruits from ancient olive trees are larger and of higher quality. 4. Care and Maintenance: Proper pruning, balanced irrigation and careful management of olive trees contribute to optimal performance. A well-cared for olive tree that has not been cultivated in an intensive model (where the trees are close to each other with hardly any space), will produce high quality olives, since it has sufficient lighting and can develop better.
How I Produce Olive Oil Using My Own Olive Trees
FAQ
How much oil can one olive tree make?
Approximate Olive Oil Production Figures:
Young Olive Trees: A young olive tree, about 5 to 8 years old, can produce around 5 to 10 liters of oil per season. Mature Olive Trees: A mature olive tree, 20 years old or more, can produce between 20 and 40 liters of oil or even more in ideal conditions.
How many olives does it take to make 1 gallon of olive oil?
Harvested olives should be placed in perforated bins. Placing olives in fermentation bins or plastic bags can cause the olives to heat up and ferment. Depending upon ripeness, it takes about 80-100 pounds of olives to make 1 gallon of olive oil.
Can you use any olives to make olive oil?
Any olive can yield olive oil. The difference is that some olives contain more flesh and “vegetative water” in proportion to oil and other varieties have more oil than water. In the past, Mediterranean communities tended to prefer olives that could be equally either eaten or used to make oil.
How much oil does an olive tree produce?
The amount of oil that the olives will produce is determined by many factors including the variety, climate, time of harvest etc but as a very rough guide, one could expect approx. 20 litres of oil from one quintal of olives. How many olives will I get from my trees? Yield depends on tree size and age, variety and growing conditions.
How many olive trees should you plant a year?
Ideally, plant 10 olive trees because you’ll increase olive oil consumption once you start producing your own olive oil. On average you can expect one olive tree to bear anywhere between ten to seventy kilograms of fruit each year. Can You Make your own olive oil?
How many olives are needed to produce one liter of oil?
Factors affecting tree production The number of olives needed to produce one liter of oil is not fixed; it depends on several factors that directly affect the quality and quantity of oil extracted: age of the olive tree and variety of olives, climate, cultivation and maturity of the olive fruit.
How many types of olive trees are there?
There are over 1,000 different varieties of olive trees, but only a few are grown commercially for olive oil production. The most common varieties include: Arbequina: This variety is native to Spain and produces a light, fruity oil. Frantoio: This variety is native to Italy and produces a medium-bodied oil with a peppery flavor.
How many trees do you need to make olive oil?
Many people have just one or two trees for decoration purposes, but in most cases, having one or two trees won’t be enough to produce your olive oil. How many olives make an oil?
How many olives can a tree produce?
Some mature trees that have not been pruned can be 40 to 60 feet tall and produce up to 800 pounds of olives, while others only produce 50. Ultra-high-density olive trees can produce over 5 kg of olives in good years. As for traditional olive groves, in good years, the yield of olive trees can exceed 100 kg and 5000 kg of olives per hectare.