Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I’m just asking for advice as to when I should start harvesting the olives on my olive trees. The higher up olives are turning dark but the main still look and feel hard rather than juicy. I only have 3 trees. Wait or make a start?

start now the green ones produce the best oil

I agree.

My TC neighbours have started today, and we've probably had the best of the weather, so there's nothing to be gained by leaving it any longer...

So can you just go and pick wild olives and then take them to a pressing place?

Also.... when they press them do they take the stones out?

No Trigger you can't. Most trees belong to someone, wherever they are. Theft of olives is taken seriously.

Even the ones along the old coast road? They don’t look like they are anyone’s to me.

Trigger wrote:Even the ones along the old coast road? They don’t look like they are anyone’s to me.

They all have a Koçan, just like your car or your house - every single one of them! They are a valuable asset.

It could be, in certain cases that the legal owner now lives in UK or Turkey, but generally everyone in each community knows 'who owns which trees'.

Don't risk it!

my neighbours grandmother cleaning the olives ready for preassing

My neighbour picking his olives - you can just see his legs

I picked all mine over 4 days and got them pressed last Sunday. 115 kilos cost 50tl. Got 23 litres of oil. They were all pretty much still green and were much admired by the people running the press as they were big and full of juice. I went to Bardak press Getcitkale as much easier to for me in Esentepe. They could not have been more helpful.

Groucho they sound wonderful. Just the taste, colour and flavour I like to drink direct from a spoon.

Keithcaley wrote:

Trigger wrote:Even the ones along the old coast road? They don’t look like they are anyone’s to me.

They all have a Koçan, just like your car or your house - every single one of them! They are a valuable asset.

It could be, in certain cases that the legal owner now lives in UK or Turkey, but generally everyone in each community knows 'who owns which trees'.

Don't risk it!

I’m trying to work out if this is a serious post or a joke.

Anyway, since I don’t fancy going to a Cypriot prison I’ve decided to play it safe and just buy a jar from the supermarket. Not half as exciting but there you go.

There are quite a few people who just cannot pick theirs, find out who they belong to and they may say go on...............pick them............... I haven't got time ..................

Groucho, pity you didn't pop in for a cuppa. I have been told the press in Sutluce (next village from Gecitkale) is better. Different kind of press. Will probably take mine there, in the next few days.

In reply to the original poster, keep an eye out for the Zeytinlik Olive Festival as the presses seem to open around that time. It's usually first weekend in October.

Anyone who thinks that the subject of harvesting olives may not be a serious post should think again. Took mine to Karshiyaka olive factory which is running almost 24 hours and very, very busy. Bumper harvest apparently. All very professional and friendly no matter how few or many olives you take in.

Ok i only have 1 tree! I juatstarted picking it with no real plan . Ive done about 1 / 3 and have inly 3 kg . So i might get to 10 kg . Is that worth taking somewhere?

A neighbour (in Karsiyaka) has only one tree; has previously harvested and taken to the local press, but appears to be not bothering this year.

Of course, it's worth taking your olives to your local press. If they don't think you have enough they usually take your olives and just give you a bottle of oil in return.

Went passed the Olive Press and Karaoglanoglu this morning and have never seen so many cars parked all over the place. Obviously been a good harvest. Hope this means the powers that be don't import so much foreign oil.

Went past Karaoglanoglu press this morning absolutely heaving carried on to karsiyaka and just as busy so decided to go early tomorrow morning. Sitting at at home and saw a post about Gecitkale press so took a ride over this afternoon. In and out in less than an hour 50TL for 108kgs lovely people nice an clean i know where we will be going next time.

Odd but not that it matters, was told it was 40tl for 100+ kg and 50tl if under 100 kg. But will go to Sutluce where they use cold press and virgin olive oil is much nicer.

Update; my neighbour has now 'harvested' his crop - sadly, he appears to have little if any knowledge as to how his tree should be properly maintained...
For the last couple of years it has been neglected (merely being 'harvested'} and growing uncontrollably, until last April when it was not trimmed or 'pollarded', but hacked and mutilated until the height varies by 3 or 4 feet! For the last couple of years - and even now - it's been not only an overgown. neglected eyesore but has actually considerably blocked the view from another resident's apartment for some while....

I have been advised that when you prune an olive tree, you have to do it in such a way so that a bird can easily fly right through it. Basically, I have pruned mine, which have all overgrown in last five years, by clearing bottom so that I may walk under, centre so that trunk is clear and can climb up without obstruction, and top by two to three foot so can be easily reached to harvest next year. I have pruned pretty much equivalent to half of each tree.

I think I have pruned it right, but maybe taken out a little too many branches, however, has not been pruned for 5 years so may be OK. Centre has been cleared to allow light and birds can fly through.

Thank you for the link Kerry6138, very useful.

an old saying : when you throw a hat into the tree it shall not fall down. or, other saying.. it should look like a mushroom.

cypriots prune in february /march.

be aware that olives are biennial.. so, after "heavy" pruning, harvest next year will be significantly reduced.