Pruning at Volmiano

After a harsh season, harsh enough to bring to mind the old estate saying “Chi dice Volmiano dice pena, siamo sicuri soltanto dalla piena!” (whoever says Volmiano says hardship; the only thing we are safe from is the flood)

The sun is shining at last, so we have begun pruning later than usual. Pruning serves to maintain the shape of the olive tree and to obtain a greater yield. Almost all of Volmiano’s 20,000 trees were once trained in the vase form with 4 main limbs (branches) rising above 5 metres, with the lower shoots turned downwards (the so-called “sottana”). The tops have now been removed and the tree reaches 3.50 metres. In addition, the suckers at the base of the trees are taken off. This height allows harvesting from the ground without ladders. So at Volmiano we not only produce an excellent extra virgin olive oil: we also help to preserve our magnificent Tuscan landscape, which rests on well-tended vineyards and olive groves.

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