An impressive growth spurt
Giant vegetable competition gets huge results
Three generations of the Ansems family of Steam Mill dominated the annual Annapolis Valley Giant Vegetable Growers competition in Waterville on Sept. 24.
Catharina Ansems took top honours and the Wayne Knox Memorial Trophy with her 1,368- pound pumpkin, while her farmer husband Gerard came second with his 1,293 pounder.
The couple has been growing giant vegetables for about 10 years. Catharina was thrilled at her win.
“His was actually 10 per cent bigger, but heavier,” she said.
Gerard noted that her pumpkin was pollinated June 12 and his June 25. His was raised in a field and Catharina’s in a greenhouse. mine was Watering was needed twice a week, Gerard said, espe- cially because of the drought conditions.
“We’re lucky we have a good water supply,” he added.
Both will be taking different giant pumpkins to the competition this weekend in Windsor. Their son, Fred, was also a prizewinner with an 111 pound field pumpkin and he grew the largest radish. Mom Catharina came second.
A nephew, Chris Ansems, grew the widest sunflower at 18.5 inches.
Gerard took the prize for the tallest sunflower, which was above his height, and he grew the longest gourd. Meanwhile Catharina captured a club record for the longest carrot on her first try.
Among the 18 categories,
“We’re lucky we have a good water supply.”
Paul Cameron won first prize for the largest marrow and Paul Ferguson for heaviest cabbage.
There were six new weighoff records set: tall corn, longest carrot, heaviest cabbage, heaviest onion, heaviest turnip and heaviest kohlrabi in the adult class and onion, field pumpkin, cabbage and turnip among the young gardeners.
In the youth category of the eighth annual competition, Emmitt Buchanan was first in the field pumpkin race with a 78-pound pumpkin. He promised to be back next year.
Carter Ansems grew the largest tomato. Travis Reid raised a 13- pound cabbage, while Miranda Reid grew both the largest onion and turnip.
The weigh- off took place Sept. 23 and 24 at the Glad Gardens Greenhouses and Farm Market near Waterville. For more information on the AVGVG or the weigh- off visit www.avgvg.com.