The 2019 season was a huge success with a 26% increase in the weight of produce over 2018 … which itself was a record.
We have written an illustrated summary of the seasn if you would like to know more – the summary also includes information abot the new Orchard at Fritz which we are now looking after. Click on the image/link below.
2018 proved to have been the best harvest since the garden started. Our backs certainly feel as if that is the case …
In particular the various cucurbitae (squash, cucumbers, courgettes) were increased by almost 90% despite the presence of various insect pests that we have not seen in previous years … and the squirrels found some of the ripening fruits. Beans were up by 55% … we had increased the number of rows planted this season and we also had a longer picking season than in earlier years as a result of the weather. Tomatoes, as usual, were our biggest crop.
The winning pumpkin was grown by Annika Peschlow with a circumference of 62 inches.
Other, almost as large, pumpkins were grown by young gardeners Julien Rosu, Mia Brady, Kristjan Peschlow and Giulia Peltier.
Thanks to everyone who planted a seed back in the spring.
This morning was the weigh-in for the 2017 Giant Pumpkin Contest. Each spring we give special seeds to young members of our community which they can grow on in part of the Garden at Fritz. Unlike last year, the weather was glorious this October morning. After the warm and wet summer we have enjoyed, the pumpkins have grown mightily and we have set a new record.
The winning pumpkin was grown by Thomas and Julianne Thierry and it weighed an amazing 180lbs (82 kg)
Our thanks to everyone who took part – and we look forward to trying to beat this record in 2018.
Saturday morning is a regular opportunity for the volunteers to harvest vegetables. Today we invited the Montreal press to come along and watch us at work … one or two made it 🙂
Most of the regular volunteers paused for coffee
Picking beans
Butternut squash will be ready soon
Are these the winning pumpkins in this year’s contest?
A new recruit to the team
The 2017 harvest continues apace – lots of fresh food boxes going to the food banks we serve.
The harvest we are gathering at the Fritz Garden this summer is simply wonderful. We have been gathering boxes and boxes of beans, cucumbers, celery, aubergines, beets, cilantro, zucchini/courgettes etc and our expansive rows of tomatoes are starting to ripen. All of this goes to local food banks and is gathered and distributed by our dedicated volunteers.
Earlier this week one of our volunteers, Claudia, was delighted to welcome a visit by the young people from the Whiteside-Taylor Garderie. They learned about what we do, saw vegetables being grown and helped a bit with the harvesting. Later Claudia received a thank-you card from the children.
This morning, our volunteer gardeners picked the first crop of vegetables of the year … at this stage mostly beans and beets. They are now on their way to one of the local food banks.
The cooler than usual and moist weather we are enjoying this year is making the crops in the garden grow really well this year – everything is green and lush and we look forward to having a good harvest in the weeks ahead. The food banks and meals-on-wheels groups that we supply should be pleased at what we will have for them. Here are some pictures from this morning.
Please come and help – general gardening tasks at the moment will before long be supplemented by the excitement of harvesting and distributing. Every Wednesday from 16:00 to 18:00 and Saturday mornings from 09:00 to 11:00 are the regular “garden parties”.
