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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 2, 20 20 | 20 As we approach the lon- gest day of the year, we can almost hear the plants growing. There is still plen- ty of time to direct sow car- rots, beets, beans, leaf let- tuce, bib lettuce, mesclun mix, radishes for a continu- ous harvest into the fall. If you are finding your grilling lacks zest, plant up some container herbs for the sunny spot on your pa- tio. Dill, mint and coriander should get their own plant- ers, or they risk taking over the whole show. This month, bordo spray will be important for your tomatoes and potatoes. Bor- do is a copper-based spray that is organic-approved. Before the end of June be sure to stake your tomato plants with a spiral stake, which are easy to use, per- manent and reduces the need to hold the plants up with a string. Getting your tomato crop off the ground will double your crop and dramatically reduce dis- ease. Another important treatment this spring is End-All and Garden Sul- phur on the fruit orchard every two weeks until the end of summer. Those sweet apples are attractive to so many pests, and the leaves to disease, so this is one area of the garden where the "hands-off" approach is not going to get you where you want to go. Remember to treat cu- cumbers and squash with diatomaceous earth (sili- cone dioxide), to control beetles. Avoid the temptation to cut back or harvest what is left of your rhubarb and as- paragus. Leaving the "green" on these plants to die back naturally is essen- tial for returning energy in- to the roots for next year's harvest. Spring flowering bulbs can have their foliage removed now without af- fecting the flowering poten- tial next year. Apply 5 cm of compost to onions, leeks and garlic which are absorbing soil- born nutrients to fuel their growth. Compost can sim- ply be left on the surface of the soil for earthworms to mobilize, no need to dig it in. This is also a great time of year to heap on that mulch. Ben remains loyal to straw, with about 20 cm or so going down on his veggies, and Mark applies 12 cm of finely ground bark mulch. It just so happens that Ben has more farmer friends, and Mark knows more arbor- ists. Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author, broadcast- er, tree advocate and Mem- ber of the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth- generation urban gardener and graduate of University of Guelph and Dalhousie University in Halifax. Fol- low them at markcullen- .com, @markcullengarden- ing, and on Facebook. OPINION IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO PLANT CARROTS, LETTUCE, BEETS, BEANS THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO PLAN FOR A BOUNTIFUL FALL HARVEST, WRITE MARK AND BEN CULLEN MARK AND BEN CULLEN Column Mike and Ben Cullen share some tips for growing vegetables in your summer garden in this week's column. Mike and Ben Cullen thank you! to all of our GREAT cusomers! We are happy to announce that we have 'reopened' and we are excited to welcome everyone back into our Showroom! FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR OVER 44 YEARS - YOUR WINDOW & DOOR PROFESSIONALS