ASHS 2025 Conference

Olive cultivation in Florida has expanded ten-fold over the last decade, with more than 60 growers managing 800 acres across 26 counties. Despite this rapid growth and rising global demand for olive oil, research on cultivar performance and best management practices in Florida remains limited. In summer 2023, data collection began at three research sites: Jay (northwest Florida), Wauchula (southwest Florida), and Fort Pierce (southeast Florida); to evaluate the adaptability and productivity of select olive cultivars under diverse climatic and soil conditions. Due to differences in grove management and tree maturity, cultivar selection varied by site, with ‘Arbequina’ consistently included in all trials. Additional cultivars included ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Sikitita’ in Wauchula, and ‘Lecciana’ and ‘Sikitita’ in Fort Pierce. Soil nutrients, leaf nutrients, temperature, moisture, and phenological development were monitored biannually. While no nutrient deficiencies were observed, a significant result emerged: ‘Arbequina’ demonstrated superior adaptability across all three sites, showing higher survival rates and more uniform vegetative growth compared to other cultivars. However, flowering and fruit production patterns remain inconsistent, likely due to climatic variability and limited chilling hours. These findings suggest that ‘Arbequina’ may be viable for Florida conditions, but further data are needed to fully assess yield potential and long-term economic feasibility.