There’s warmth, and then there’s heat. Everyone knows that the weather on Crete is generally sunny and lovely. In summer, temperatures often rise up to forty degrees Celsius. And this summer is no exception. How does this heat affect our olive groves? Of course, George is on-site and explains.
Weather on Crete
The past few weeks haven’t been pleasant—on both the islands and the mainland. The latter, however, has had it especially tough. The wildfires that have swept through the country have made international headlines, tragically claiming at least 54 lives. Most of this took place around Athens. Crete has also seen some spontaneous fires, but fortunately, no people or homes have been in danger. The fires broke out in the middle of the island, which mainly affected traffic between the east and west.
The Gkazas Olive Groves
As George says over the phone: “For now, it’s the waiting game. We don’t water the olive trees. It is too dry and expensive.” But luckily, there is also good news. From what George has seen in the olive groves, this year’s harvest looks promising—at least, as long as nature doesn’t suddenly act up. Unfortunately, that has been happening more often in recent years, and a strong hailstorm could really cause problems. Hailstones can damage the olives, which is a small disaster for pressing. Half the juice is gone!
Climate Change
Earlier, we wrote about the effects of climate change on olive oil production. Now, this heatwave isn’t exactly something olive trees can’t handle. What’s more problematic is a quick succession of different types of weather. That can ‘confuse’ the trees, which isn’t good for the fruit. Fortunately, olive trees thrive with lots of sunlight and relatively little water. The roots of mature trees grow deep enough to naturally reach groundwater. So for now, everything is still looking fine. Let’s hope it stays that way!
Want to know more about Crete?
Would you like to learn more about Crete or get a fun behind-the-scenes look? Then click here!
