Nocellara Del Belice – Castelvetrano
There really is no other olive like the Nocellara Del Belice, also known as Castelvetrano. This native Sicilian olive tree offers meaty fruit with a uniquely nutty and buttery flavor, making it one of the most sought after varieties in the world. Grown in Western Sicily’s Valle de Belice, the table olive is also known as Castelvetrano, named for the town in which the fruit is traditionally salt brine cured.
The medium sized fruit boasts a high flesh to pit ratio (85-88%), and good weight (5-7 grams). Table fruit is harvested green for best curing. As a dual purpose olive, fruit can be harvested at the rosy blush color stage to produce olive oil well known for its special quality and dynamic flavor profile. Trees are adaptable to most soils and container growing. The tree is hardy and appreciates a warm dry summer, and can be sensitive to over-watering once established. The dense crown of this medium sized (20 feet) tree offers good productivity on lush branches with broad leaves that are darker green in color than other olive tree varieties. They will produce as a single tree, but does even better with another tree of a different variety present. Zones 8-11
Growing Info
Latin Name: Olea europaea
Site and Soil: Olives like a warm, protected location with 1/2 day to full sun and well drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Nocellara Del Belice is self-fertile, though crops will likely be heavier with another variety nearby. Olives are wind pollinated and should be planted no more than 20 ft. apart. You can assist pollination by moving pollen from flower to flower with a small brush.
Hardiness: Nocellara Del Belice is hardy to 10° F. or below.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: Up to 20 ft. in height
Bloom Time: May
Ripening Time: October
Yield: 20+ lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Our Olives have not been bothered by pests or diseases
USDA Zone: 8-11
Sunset Western Zone: 8, 9, 11-24, H1, H2
Sunset Northeast Zone: Not listed