Orchard People

What are perry pears, and why are these unusual fruit trees worth preserving?

In this episode of the Orchard People podcast, Susan visits Gloucestershire, England, to discover the centuries-old tradition of perry making.
Her guide is Phil Kester of 99 Pines, a volunteer organization working to preserve rare perry pear varieties and the knowledge needed to harvest and process them.
Together with volunteer Mark Jordan, Susan explores historic pear orchards, helps harvest the fruit, and learns how traditional perry is made.

In this episode, you'll learn:
What makes perry pears different from ordinary eating pears.
Why rare varieties like Gin pear, Hendre Huffcap, and Blakeney Red are worth preserving.
How to recognize when perry pears are ready to harvest.
How panking poles are used to collect ripe fruit.
What scratting, maceration, pressing, and fermentation involve.
Why making perry can be more challenging than making apple cider.
How volunteers are keeping historic orchards and local traditions alive.
Along the way, Susan discovers that preserving fruit trees is about more than keeping rare varieties growing. It's also about sharing knowledge, building relationships, and creating opportunities for future generations to participate.

Episode/related resources:
 
99 Pines:
https://www.nationalperrypearcentre.org.uk/99pines-perry/
 
Companion article: Why Grow Perry Pears? Discover the Fruit Behind Traditional Pear Cider
https://orchardpeople.com/why-grow-perry-pears
How to make apple cider:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-make-apple-cider/

How to make hard cider:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-make-hard-cider/

What is wassailing?
https://orchardpeople.com/what-is-wassailing/

Perry pears for ciders with Barry Masterson
https://podcast.orchardpeople.com/episodes/making-perry-cider
About Orchard People
Orchard People shares practical fruit tree care advice, educational resources, and conversations with people who grow and care for trees.
Explore more articles, podcasts, videos, and books at https://orchardpeople.com/

(00:00) - Welcome to Perry Country

(00:44) - Meet Phil and 99 Pines

(01:18) - Perry Pear History

(02:53) - Why Perry Is Hard

(03:55) - Volunteer Harvest Days

(04:48) - The 99 Pines Legend

(05:38) - How to Harvest Pears

(06:52) - Rare Varieties and Names

(07:47) - Mark on Ripeness

(11:03) - Day Two New Orchard

(12:08) - From Scrat to Ferment

(13:14) - Bottling Charity and Why

(14:48) - Final Reflections

Explore what soil biology can reveal about fruit tree health - and how compost, mulch, root-zone conditions, observation, and ongoing care can help fruit trees thrive.

Susan visits two community orchards in Peterborough, Ontario, with Christina Balint of GreenUP, where trees planted around roughly the same time are growing very differently. With soil microscopy expert Derek Barbe, they investigate what might be happening beneath the trees. 

Resources from our guests:

Christina Balint | GreenUP
The orchards featured in this episode are part of a larger network of community orchards cared for by volunteers with support from GreenUP and community partners.
Peterborough Community Orchard Stewards
Read Christina's story: Peterborough's community orchards are growing more than fruit
Explore GreenUP volunteer opportunities
Support GreenUP's work

Derek Barbe | Soil microscopy
For those interested in exploring soil biology further, Derek recommends:
Soil Food Web Certified Listing Directory — find a practitioner near you

For those interested in going deeper, Derek also recommends this resource featuring Dr. Elaine Ingham, founder of the Soil Food Web School:
Explore Derek's recommended Soil Food Web resource

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The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.  

Susan is the author of four books on fruit tree care. Learn more here: https://orchardpeople.com/books/

HOW TO TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST

📺 Video Podcast: Watch the recorded episode anytime on our YouTube Podcast Playlist.
🎧 Audio Podcast: Download the podcast and listen on your favorite app after it airs.
🌐 Article: Read the article linked to the show "Why do some fruit trees thrive while others struggle?" and find the video and podcast links there too! 

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✍️ Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GROWING FRUIT TREES THAT THRIVE:

✂️ How to Prune Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-prune-and-train-fruit-trees/
🪲 Fruit Tree Pests and Diseases:
https://orchardpeople.com/protecting-fruit-trees-from-pests-and-diseases/
🌳 How to Feed Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-feed-fruit-trees/
🍎 The Best Fruit Trees to Grow:
https://orchardpeople.com/best-fruit-trees-to-grow/
🌱 How to Graft Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-graft-fruit-trees/

WHERE TO BUY FRUIT TREE CARE BOOKS AND PRODUCTS:
📗Buy Fruit Tree Care Books (including Susan's books) Here:
https://orchardpeople.com/books/
🪚Buy Fruit Tree Pruning Tools and Other Products

These show notes may contain affiliate links to products. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

We often think about watering, pruning, and fertilizing when a fruit tree struggles. 
In this Classic Episode, Dr. Glynn Percival explores another possibility: compacted soil. 
Learn what vertical mulching is, when it may help, and why healthy roots begin with healthy soil.

Dr. Glynn Percival is a Senior Arboricultural Research Manager at Bartlett Tree Experts in the UK.

You can download Glynn's PowerPoint presentation referred to in the show by clicking here.

The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.  

Susan is the author of four books on fruit tree care. Learn more here: https://www.orchardpeople.com/books

HOW TO TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST

📺 Video Podcast: Watch the recorded episode anytime on our YouTube Podcast Playlist.
🎧 Audio Podcast: Download the podcast and listen on your favorite app after it airs.
🌐 Article: Read the article linked to the show "Vertical Mulching for Fruit Trees: When Surface Mulch Isn't Enough" and find the video and podcast links there too! 

---------------------
 
✍️ Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GROWING FRUIT TREES THAT THRIVE:

✂️ How to Prune Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-prune-and-train-fruit-trees/
🪲 Fruit Tree Pests and Diseases:
https://orchardpeople.com/protecting-fruit-trees-from-pests-and-diseases/
🌳 How to Feed Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-feed-fruit-trees/
🍎 The Best Fruit Trees to Grow:
https://orchardpeople.com/best-fruit-trees-to-grow/
🌱 How to Graft Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-graft-fruit-trees/

WHERE TO BUY FRUIT TREE CARE BOOKS AND PRODUCTS:
📗Buy Fruit Tree Care Books (including Susan's books) Here:
https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books
🪚Buy Fruit Tree Pruning Tools and Other Products

These show notes may contain affiliate links to products. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

In this classic Orchard People podcast episode, explore why some fruit trees grow vigorously while others struggle for years before producing fruit, with fruit tree physiologist John Cline about the science behind fruit tree growth, productivity, and early fruiting.
John Cline Ph.D, is a professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, at the University of Guelph in Ontario.
Together, they explore how rootstocks, pruning, branch training, soil conditions, sunlight, watering, and tree genetics all influence how quickly fruit trees establish and produce harvests.
This conversation originally helped inspire Susan’s book Grow Fruit Trees Fast and remains one of Orchard People’s foundational discussions on young fruit tree care.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• The difference between vigor and precocity
• Why some fruit tree varieties grow faster than others
• How rootstocks affect tree size and productivity
• Why branch bending can encourage earlier fruiting
• When pruning stimulates growth — and when it delays harvests
• How soil, sunlight, and irrigation influence tree health
• Common mistakes that slow young fruit trees down

The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.  

Susan is the author of four books on fruit tree care. Learn more here: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books

HOW TO TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST

📺 Video Podcast: Watch the recorded episode anytime on our YouTube Podcast Playlist.
🎧 Audio Podcast: Download the podcast and listen on your favorite app after it airs.
🌐 Article: Read the article linked to the show "Fertilizing Fruit Trees: Why Water Matters More Than You Think" and find the video and podcast links there too! 

---------------------
 
✍️ Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GROWING FRUIT TREES THAT THRIVE:

✂️ How to Prune Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-prune-and-train-fruit-trees/
🪲 Fruit Tree Pests and Diseases:
https://orchardpeople.com/protecting-fruit-trees-from-pests-and-diseases/
🌳 How to Feed Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-feed-fruit-trees/
🍎 The Best Fruit Trees to Grow:
https://orchardpeople.com/best-fruit-trees-to-grow/
🌱 How to Graft Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-graft-fruit-trees/

WHERE TO BUY FRUIT TREE CARE BOOKS AND PRODUCTS:
📗Buy Fruit Tree Care Books (including Susan's books) Here:
https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books
🪚Buy Fruit Tree Pruning Tools and Other Products

These show notes may contain affiliate links to products. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Learn how watering and feeding fruit trees work together with arborist, author, and educator Casey Clapp on this episode of the Orchard People Radio Show.
Casey is the co-host of Completely Arbortrary and an arborist based in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more:
https://caseyclapp.com
https://arbortrarypod.com
https://www.gofundme.com/manage/yearofthecone
The host of the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.  

Susan is the author of four books on fruit tree care. Learn more here: https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books

HOW TO TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST

📺 Video Podcast: Watch the recorded episode anytime on our YouTube Podcast Playlist.
🎧 Audio Podcast: Download the podcast and listen on your favorite app after it airs.
🌐 Article: Read the article linked to the show "Fertilizing Fruit Trees: Why Water Matters More Than You Think" and find the video and podcast links there too! 

---------------------
 
✍️ Do you want to learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully? Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's free monthly newsletter at https://orchardpeople.com/sign-up/

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GROWING FRUIT TREES THAT THRIVE:

✂️ How to Prune Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-prune-and-train-fruit-trees/
🪲 Fruit Tree Pests and Diseases:
https://orchardpeople.com/protecting-fruit-trees-from-pests-and-diseases/
🌳 How to Feed Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-feed-fruit-trees/
🍎 The Best Fruit Trees to Grow:
https://orchardpeople.com/best-fruit-trees-to-grow/
🌱 How to Graft Fruit Trees:
https://orchardpeople.com/how-to-graft-fruit-trees/

WHERE TO BUY FRUIT TREE CARE BOOKS AND PRODUCTS:
📗Buy Fruit Tree Care Books (including Susan's books) Here:
https://learn.orchardpeople.com/books
🪚Buy Fruit Tree Pruning Tools and Other Products

These show notes may contain affiliate links to products. We may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!