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This our pick for South Eastern States,
The Luccino is a very rustic variety. Planted
world-wide, vigorous, with open semi-pendulous habit. Greenish-gray leaves with
yellowish underside. Use for semi-ripe or black table olives; mildly fruity and
delicate oil. Resistant to wind, fog, olive knot and fungus. Early simultaneous
fruit maturation. Pollenized by Maurino or Frantoio.
The tree is very sensitive to strong winds
and tends to lean over with the prevailing wind in the orchard. Thus thinning
pruning is advisable particularly for young trees. The fruiting potential is
high and the response to irrigation is good, causing a marked increase in yield
while the reduction of oil content in the fruits at the optimal stage of
maturation is relative small. The commercial oil content is about 17% under
irrigated conditions and has a somewhat fruity flavor. Leccino
has a relatively high tolerance to low temperatures and high humidity.
Leccino originates from
central Italy. It is found however, in most olive growing regions in Italy but
is also found on a significant scale in some other olive growing countries. In
many of the new olive developing regions it is used as one of the major oil
cultivars. Leccino can be found at a larger scale in cooler regions due to its
relative high resistance to low temperatures. The trees are of medium size but
need somewhat larger planting distances as they tend to widen (220-250
trees/ha). For good production the natural growth habit-vase-type is most
suitable. Other growing forms are somewhat difficult to maintain without causing
early tree decline.
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