October is perhaps one of my most favourite months of the year. The dog days of summer are well behind us, the kids have settled into the school-year routine by now, we get to celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving and let’s not forget that it’s the month the Canadian greenhouse industry comes together in Niagara Falls for two days to do business, share knowledge and network. What more could we want?
The Canadian Greenhouse Conference kicks off on Oct. 4 and features a roster of some of the industry’s brightest minds and experts sharing the latest research, innovations and insights on this always changing business landscape. It’s a great opportunity to come out and take stock of how this past year treated you and your business and to see what (and who) is out there to help you get ahead in 2024. This year’s conference features a sold-out trade show floor as well as two days of talks and presentations on issues like sustainability, IPM, irrigation and pesticide use, production, lighting, technology and automation and much more. To learn more about the event or to register, visit the Canadian Greenhouse Conference website.
In this month’s Greenhouse Canada magazine, we’re exploring rootzone management, particularly growing media and nutrition that contribute to creating a healthy rootzone. Writer Treena Hein offers an in-depth look at Charged Carbon, a new standalone, sustainable growing media launched by Alberta’s Pure Life Carbon that is gaining attention across the globe. Additionally, research out of Niagara College shows several soil amendments can help reduce fertilizer loss, while research out of the University of Guelph, shows much promise in improving plant health and cutting costs by reducing nutrient inputs in mums.
Garden centres, typically a hive of activity in the spring and summer months, go through quite a change in the gardening off-seasons. In order to keep customers coming through the door, independent garden centres have to get creative. This month, readers will hear from some Canadian entrepreneurs who have had some success in making their garden centre a year-round destination.
Finally, as the days grow shorter, lighting becomes even more top of mind for growers and, as such, is one of this month’s themes for the magazine. Drs. Fadi Al-Daoud (OMAFRA) and Xiuming Hao (AAFC) have written an in-depth review of some of the lighting research conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research and Development Centre over the past several years, starting on page 18. Lighting also brought tomato growers together in Ontario earlier this year for an event hosted by Philips Horticulture to learn about growing under LED lights. Learn more about this on page 48.
In the meantime, Greenhouse Canada can be found at booth #2000 at this year’s CGC. If we don’t have a chance to connect at the show, please feel free to reach out to me at akouniakis@annexbusinessmedia.com.
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