045: J. Cline Ph.D. & D. Plotkowski | Pomology Cider Research, Canada

045: J. Cline Ph.D. & D. Plotkowski | Pomology Cider Research, Canada

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist September 7, 2016 Duration: 1:01:59

Dr. John Cline and Derek Plotkowski chat on the study of pomes, i.e., Pomology and their current research on cider apples. They are based at the University of Guelph in Ontario Canada.

Ep 45 Pomologist John Cline
John Cline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pomology and Cider in Ontario

The Ontario Craft Cider Association approached Dr. Cline looking for access to cider varieties and to get an understanding of how they would grow in Canada.

Cline and Plotkowski, are researching the horticultural aspects of growing these cider varieties in Canada, such as;

  • How productive are they?
  • What might be the issues facing the cider apple trees selected?
  • How to they work with the root stock M9?
  • What are their disease and insect susceptibility?
  • How prone are they to winter injury in Canada?

Apples and Cider in Canada – Research

 The results of this research and starting data should begin to show preliminary information in 2017.

Says Dr. Cline, "In Canada apples are second to blueberries in terms of fruit crops. In terms of tree crops they are number 1"

Ep 045 Derek Plotkowski researcher
Derek Plotkowski

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derek is working towards his Ph. D. in pomology. He studied previously at Cornell University in New York State.

While in France, he took a "Terroir Management" course. Go to 43 minutes in to the start of this conversation.

"When you are taking about terroir you are talking about a very specific spot" – Derek

What is the difference between a young tree vs an older tree?

  • Between 1-4 years, the fruit is softer and apples do not store as well

The goal is to have trees  producing more fruits and yielding a higher crop load on the tree and consistent size.

The pomologist are studying, young trees grown in a high density orchard: They take leaf samples (mid July) to assess the nitrogen concentration in a plant.

What is the  nitrogen range for apple trees?

  • They are looking to find 2.2% nitrogen on a dry matter leaf.
  • If that is lower than 2.2, orchardist will work towards increasing the nitrogen for that tree.

Too much nitrogen lends to poor quality

Says Derek, "The cidermaker is taking care of the juice as a medium for yeast"

Contact info for Dr. Cline and Derek Plotkowski

Dr. John Cline

Derek Plotskowski

eMaildplotkow@uoguelph.ca

Derk's grad student profile: http://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/treefruit/teaching/grad/current.html

Mentions in this Cider Chat

Donate to Cider Chat! Help keep the chat thriving! via my Pateron page.


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
318: Manoir de Montreuil | 13 Generations in Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:24
Domaine du Manoir de Montreuil with Patrice Giard In this episode: Patrice Giard recorded during the Totally Cider Tour to Normandy France in September 2018. The upcoming 2022 French Cider Tour will be making a stop at t…
317: How a "Cyder" Teapot fueled the American Revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
Cider's back story behind the American Revolution In the 1700s ceramic teapots were the political bumper stickers of the day! In this episode we hear about the Cyder Act teapot that the Museum of the American Revolution…
316: Celebrating New Zealander Alex Peckham | 1962-2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:50
Alex Peckham New Zealand's Premier Cidermaker With wit and charm and dashing good looks Alex Peckham charmed all who had the pleasure of meeting him. The fact that he produced exemplary ciders was merely a side bonus. I…
315: Climate Change & Apple Disease | CiderCon 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:43
Climate Change insights for Orchardists Elizabeth Garofalo of the University of Massachusetts is an Extension Educator and part of the Fruit Team. This workshop presented how regional climates are shifting and the impact…
314: Top of the Mitten | Michigan Cider Terroir [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:47
Northern Michigan a.k.a. Top of the Mitten A cider tasting with Left Foot Charley, Tandem Cider and Presque Isle Farm Cider as presented at CiderCon20222. Nicole LeGrand Leibon of LaNose Knows consulting moderated this p…
313: Wild Yeast Fermentations | CiderCon 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:04
Wild, Clean & Free: Harnessing the Beauty of Wild-Fermenting, Without the Flaws Was presented at CiderCon2022 held in Richmond, Virginia in February. The seminar was moderated by Christine Walter of Bauman's Cider. Three…
312: Angels Dressed Like Bears | Michael Phillips 1957-2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:19
Tribute to Author and Orchardists Michael Phillips I spoke with his long time friend Alan Surprenant of Brook Farm Orchard in Ashfield, Massachusetts on a cool March day a little over two week's after the unexpected pass…
311: Saving Bears by Making Cider | Farmstead Cider, WY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:52
Farmstead Wyoming's First Commercial Cidery Ian McGregor who cofounded Farmstead Cider with Orion Bellorado holds the title of being both the first commercial cidery in the state of Wyoming and as of this episode publish…
310: D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery | Youngstown, OH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:44
The DOPE Brand Hannah Ferguson is giving us all a reason to visit Youngstown, Ohio. Her DOPE brand is helping to introduce the city to cider like never before. The bio says that the DOPE brand is about a "Winemaker, Mark…
309: Blue Bee Cider | Richmond, VA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:36
Blue Bee Cider Founder Courtney Mailey Courtney Mailey, always knew she wanted to be a farmer of sorts. In the high school she took part in an aptitude test with the result showing that she was to be a farmer. By the way…