From Frost to Fresh Blooms: What’s Coming Next at Orchard Fruit Market
As the last leaves fall and the crisp autumn air settles in, we’re closing our doors for the winter and reflecting on another beautiful season at Orchard Fruit Market.
From the first bunches of Ontario asparagus in May to the very last apples and pumpkins in October, this year was full of flavour, colour, and community. Thank you to everyone who stopped by! Whether you came for fresh fruit, flowers, garden plants, or just a friendly hello, your visits make all the hard work worth it.
While the market takes a well-deserved rest, we’re already planning for Spring 2026, when our market will be overflowing once again with local produce and garden blooms! Here’s a taste of what’s to come when we reopen — month by month — from May through October.
🌼 May: The Season Begins — Fresh Greens & Garden Dreams
May is when everything bursts back to life. The market reopens with fresh Ontario asparagus, crisp rhubarb, and the first greenhouse greens. The scent of flowers and soil fills the air, and gardeners can’t wait to dig in.
What’s in season for Ontario:
Asparagus & Rhubarb – Tender spears and tart, ruby stalks kick off spring.
Mushrooms & Bell Peppers – Earthy mushrooms meet crisp, colourful peppers.
Cucumbers & Tomatoes – Juicy, vibrant, greenhouse-grown delights.
Beets & Radishes – Colourful roots with crunch and flavour.
Garden highlights:
Our garden centre comes alive with spring annuals — pansies, petunias, geraniums, impatiens, and marigolds in every colour.
Vegetable starter plants arrive, including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, and lettuce.
Perennials such as hostas, echinacea, daylilies, and forget-me-nots return, ready to fill garden beds.
Don’t forget your hanging baskets and mixed planters — perfect Mother’s Day gifts and patio décor.
🍓 June: Strawberries, Pod Peas & Early Harvest Joy
By June, Ontario fields are buzzing with growth. Strawberries are sweet and juicy, peonies are in full bloom, and the first summer vegetables begin to roll in.
What’s in season for Ontario:
Field Strawberries – Sweet, sun-ripened berries straight from Ontario fields.
Pod Peas & Green/Yellow Beans – Crisp, tender, and full of summer flavour.
Wild Blueberries & Raspberries – Tiny bursts of juicy, tangy sweetness.
Garden highlights:
Peonies, lupins, iris, and columbine light up perennial gardens.
Summer annuals — zinnias, salvia, begonias, and verbena — are at their most vibrant.
It’s the perfect time to plant container herbs and hanging baskets for easy summer colour.
Pollinator-friendly favourites such as lavender, bee balm, and coneflower help local bees thrive.
🍒 July: Sweet Berries, Corn & Summer Abundance
July is when the market truly comes alive at the peak of Ontario summer — gardens and markets overflow with juicy stone fruit, sweet corn, blackberries, and sun-ripened field tomatoes. It’s the perfect time for picnics, grilling, and savouring the rich flavours of the season.
What’s in season for Ontario:
Ontario Sweet Corn – Juicy, golden ears straight from local fields, perfect for grilling or roasting.
Niagara Stone Fruit – Peaches, apricots, nectarines, prune plums, and sugarplums at peak sweetness.
Cherries & Blackberries – Juicy, sun-ripened, and bursting with sweet, summer flavour.
Garlic & Field Tomatoes – Robust, aromatic garlic and sun-ripened, juicy tomatoes
Garden highlights:
Dahlias, daylilies, and coneflowers bring brilliant mid-summer colour.
Keep baskets and containers thriving by deadheading spent blooms and feeding regularly.
Herbs like basil, cilantro, and dill are perfect for pesto and preserving.
Add tropical flair with heat-lovers like hibiscus, lantana, and celosia planters
🍑 August: Peaches, Tomatoes & Full Harvest Glory
August is the heart of Ontario’s growing season — every table and basket overflows with fresh, fragrant produce. It’s the perfect time for picnics, canning, and enjoying the rich flavours of summer.
What’s in season for Ontario:
Field Cucumbers for Pickling – Crunchy, crisp, and perfect for homemade pickles.
Plum Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leeks & Eggplant – Garden-fresh veggies bursting with flavour.
Zucchini & New Potatoes – Tender, crisp, and perfect for summer meals.
Pears, Concord Grapes & Early Apples – Crisp, sweet, and just-picked from Ontario orchards.
Garden highlights:
Black-eyed Susans, phlox, and ornamental grasses fill gardens with late-summer beauty.
Sunflowers and zinnias shine in cut-flower arrangements.
Keep harvesting herbs and drying them for winter use.
Consider planting cool-season crops like spinach, kale, or lettuce for a late fall harvest.
🍎 September: Apples, Pumpkins & Fall Abundance
By September, the air cools and the smell of apples and cinnamon fills the market. It’s time for cozy recipes, Thanksgiving produce, and fall decorating.
What’s in season for Ontario:
Apples – Honeycrisp, Gala, McIntosh, and Cortland, crisp and sweet.
Pears, Grapes, Plums & Late Peaches – Juicy, ripe, and orchard-fresh.
Pumpkins, Squash & Root Vegetables – Perfect for hearty fall recipes.
Late-Season Sweet Corn & Peppers – Tender, flavourful, and ready to harvest.
Garden highlights:
Fall mums and ornamental kale bring warm tones to porches and patios.
Fall décor — pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, corn stalks, straw bales, and gourds for your porch
Plant spring bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and crocuses for next year’s early blooms.
Clean up annual beds and compost spent plants to prepare for next spring.
🎃 October: Apples, Cider & Cozy Market Days
October is our farewell month — a time for pumpkins, cider, and the final harvest of the year. The colours are rich, the air is crisp, and it’s all about celebrating the beauty of the season.
What’s in season for Ontario:
Apples of Every Variety – Crisp, juicy, and orchard-fresh.
Squash, Pumpkins, Carrots & Potatoes – Perfect for hearty fall dishes.
Late-Season Pears & Grapes – Sweet, ripe, and ready to enjoy.
Brussels Sprouts – Crisp, green mini-cabbages perfect for roasting or sautéing.
Market favourites:
Fresh-pressed apple cider, local honey & jams, and homemade pies
Hardy mums and late-blooming asters to keep your garden cheerful through the frost
🌾 Until Next Season…
As we close our gates for the winter, we’re filled with gratitude for our customers, growers, and community. Every spring through fall brings its own beauty — and none of it would be possible without you.
We can’t wait to welcome you back to Orchard Fruit Market in May 2026, refreshed and ready for another season of farm-fresh produce, garden blooms, and local goodness. Plan ahead with our Ontario Produce Calendar — see what’s coming each month!
Until then, stay cozy, enjoy your preserves, and dream of the first sweet strawberries — and corn on the cob — of spring. 🌽🍓
From all of us at Orchard Fruit Market — thank you for a wonderful season. See you next spring! 🌷