EXTREME GARDENING
“I would rather feel things in extreme than not at all” – Bonnie Raitt

We have always said gardening is like an extreme sport, right up there with rock climbing and skydiving.

A little closer to the earth, maybe. But the thrills are there.

And it is getting more extreme all the time – with record droughts across western North America while we stand up to our ankles in rainfall here in Ontario. Chad Fennell, a bean grower for Cullen’s Foods, remarked that if the current rainfall keeps up, he will be looking for a canoe to replace his tractor. Not sure how he plans to run those implements, but we would leave that to him to figure out.
 
All within a summer, contained within a continent – opposite extremes.
We know that this is part of the new normal, so we must adapt and find joy where the garden shows us once again the power of resilience. 
THINGS TO DO IN THE FOOD GARDEN:

Especially with all this rain, make sure to apply bordo mixture to your tomatoes every two weeks from now until harvest. Stake your tomatoes as well, if you want to double your harvest by improving airflow and light penetration. We like spiral stakes as opposed to cages.

Sow leaf lettuce, mesclun, radish, carrots, broccoli, onions, carrots, peas late season crops for harvesting right into the cooler temperatures of fall.

Harvest those raspberries and cherries – important to stay on top of this job so they do not rot on the plant!

Another important job under damp conditions, spray your fruit trees with End All and Garden Sulphur to prevent fungal pressure and to keep insects at bay. Both applications are safe and you can save time by applying them together.  

TODAY: GREEN FILE EPISODE 27
Jennifer Reynolds of Harrowsmith Magazine
This week we are talking to incoming Editor-in-Chief at Harrowsmith Magazine, Jennifer Reynolds.

Jennifer and Mark go way back – back to when Jennifer was working at a Weall & Cullen garden center in Scarborough where she met her now-husband.
Jennifer’s career spans various roles across garden media and non-profit world’s, including Evergreen Canada and Gardening Life Magazine.

Tune in & tell a friend - available on Apple Podcasts AND Spotify!

Mark and Ben Cullen
Merchants of Beauty
CANADA BLOOMS INSPIRATION VIDEO SERIES
We were delighted to host the 10 part video series for Canada Blooms, the country’s premier flower and garden show that was, of course, put on hold this year and last. 

It remains a viable, active entity and the short videos help to illustrate and inspire with images and a message that will get you thinking differently about your own outdoor space.

Each video is about 2 minutes long: not a big time commitment for something that might change your life.

We had fun doing this and we hope that comes through in our work.