The following should be considered when choosing varieties for the olive grove.

• Availability.
• Whether the aim is to produce oil or pickling/preserved olives, or both.
• Demand for the final product.
• Compatibility with the soil type.
• Growth rate.
• Yield.
• Is the variety predisposed to alternate bearing.
• Oil quality and percentage.
• Demand for the final product.
• Need to blend final product.
• Tree size.
• Yield.
• Is the tree self-pollinating, or will you need to plant pollinators.
• Resistance to frost.
• Resistance to drought.
• Susceptibility to pests and diseases.
• Ease of processing.
• Ease of harvesting.
• Suitability for mechanical harvesting.
• Predisposition of fruit to bruising.
• Flowering, fruiting and ripening times.
• Harvest timing (consider two earlies and a mid, or two mids and a late).
• Availability of labour at harvest time for the variety.