Fruit Tree Care Lessons with Greg Peterson

Fruit Tree Care Lessons with Greg Peterson

Author: Susan Poizner, OrchardPeople.com November 29, 2023 Duration: 1:01:15

Join Greg Peterson from UrbanFarm.org as he shares five key fruit tree lessons that he has learned from starting a new orchard in North Carolina, applying lessons from 30 years of experience growing fruit trees on his urban farm in Phoenix, Arizona. Listen live to enter our contest to win this month's prize, UrbanFarm.org's Growing Food The Basics Course - $197 value.

The host of The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast is Susan Poizner of the fruit tree care education website www.orchardpeople.com.  Tune into The Urban Forestry Radio Show LIVE by going to RealityRadio101.com on the last Tuesday of every month at 1.00 pm Eastern Time.


Learn to grow organic fruit trees successfully. Sign up for OrchardPeople.com's premium online courses at https://learn.orchardpeople.com/

  • (00:00) - Show Introduction
  • (01:44) - Fruit Tree Lessons for New Growers Introduction
  • (02:17) - Why Greg is moving to a new site to grow his fruit trees
  • (09:17) - Greg's First Lesson: Wait a year before planting your first fruit trees
  • (12:40) - Greg's second lesson: Understand IPM
  • (22:49) - Greg's third lesson: Your first garden is your worst garden
  • (25:28) - Advice from experienced growers from the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) group
  • (26:02) - Labels and map your fruit trees
  • (27:57) - Buy later ripening varieties (or early if you live in a warm climate)
  • (29:35) - Elevate the planting zone
  • (32:57) - Join the North American Fruit Explorers
  • (33:58) - Messages from show sponsors
  • (38:29) - Introduction to part 2
  • (39:38) - Planting is trios
  • (44:28) - Greg's fourth lesson: Pay attention and observe
  • (45:47) - How Greg plants new trees
  • (49:16) - Greg's lesson #5: Planting 150 trees is different than planting 5
  • (51:24) - Dig holes for trees well in advance
  • (51:52) - Learn how to graft fruit trees
  • (52:30) - The importance of thinning the fruit on your tree
  • (52:58) - The importance of correct fruit tree pruning
  • (57:22) - Appreciation for Apple Podcast ratings and reviews
  • (58:52) - How to learn more about Greg
  • (59:32) - How to learn more about Susan and her fruit tree education website



Imagine stepping into your own backyard and picking a perfect, sun-warmed apple from a tree you nurtured yourself. That tangible connection to the land and the deep satisfaction of growing your own food is at the heart of Orchard People. Hosted by fruit tree care educator Susan Poizner, this podcast digs into the practical and often surprising world of cultivating fruit trees, whether you have a few pots on a balcony or several acres to explore. Each episode feels like a thoughtful conversation with a knowledgeable friend, as Susan and her guests unpack the nuances of pruning for better harvests, managing pests without harsh chemicals, and understanding the life beneath our feet through soil health. You’ll hear from specialists on topics like grafting heirloom varieties, designing resilient food forests, and integrating permaculture principles into any space. It’s more than just tips and tricks; it’s about building confidence and community around sustainable growing. Tune in to this garden-focused podcast for grounded advice that helps both new and experienced growers foster healthier trees and more abundant yields, season after season.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 123

Orchard People
Podcast Episodes
USDA Wild and Cultivated Apple Tree Collection with Ben Gutierrez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:53
Learn about the wild and cultivated apple varieties at the USDA's Apple Collection of 5000+ Unique apple trees in Geneva, New York with my guest Ben Gutierrez, Curator of Apple and Tart Cherry for the USDA. For more info…
Beneficial Nematodes with David Shapiro-Ilan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:16
Learn how beneficial nematodes can control orchard pests including plum curculio and Japanese beetles with entomologist David Shapiro-Ilan at the Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory in Byron in this episo…
Fruit Mummies with Kerik Cox [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:02
Have you ever found mummified and immature fruit on your fruit trees? Learn what's happening and how to prevent this using botanical sprays in this episode of the Orchard People podcast. Our guest is Plant Pathologist, M…
Fruit Tree Patents with Jeremy Kent Tamsen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:48
What fruit trees are illegal to propagate? Learn about fruit tree propagation law with with Jeremy Kent Tamsen of Washington State University. WSU's Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee Washington develo…
Best Wood Chips for Fruit Trees with Linda Chalker-Scott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:50
Learn about the best wood mulches for fruit trees with Linda Chalker-Scott, Professor of Horticulture at Washington State University in this episode of the Orchard People radio show and podcast. Linda is the award-winnin…
Fruit Trees in Fabric Pots with Kevin Espiritu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:11
Learn when, why and how to grow fruit trees in fabric pots. Our show guest on the Orchard People radio show and podcast is Kevin Espiritu of EpicGardening.com. Kevin is the author of the book Grow Bag Gardening: The Revo…
Grafting Compatibility with Kevin Folta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:08
Learn about grafting compatibility and what kinds of trees can be grafted together by understanding the science of graft unions! Our guest is Dr Kevin Folta, Professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Flori…
Old Apple Varieties with Daniel Bussey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:03
Learn about old apple cultivars with apple historian Daniel Bussey, author of The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada.The host of The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast is Susan Poizner of th…
Hügelkultur with Paul Wheaton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:32
Learn how to cultivate thriving fruit trees and gardens even if you don't have the best soil by using the Hügelkultur technique. Tune in to this Tuesday's live radio show and podcast with guest Paul Wheaton from Permies.…