Best balcony? I've got it in the bag. 🌸

Published: Sun, 06/13/21

Happy Sunday, Rural Sprout Readers!

I’m sitting out on my balcony this morning, sipping coffee and enjoying a break in the humidity. I wish you could smell the scent of all the flowers and herbs I’ve got growing up here. The lemon balm is especially fragrant this morning.

As someone who doesn’t have a yard, I have to get creative to continue gardening. Back in April, I wrestled with window boxes on my balcony railing, trying to figure out the best way to attach them and provide the needed support.

I finally realized I was going about it all wrong.

I use grow bags for nearly all of my vegetable gardening. One day, it struck me that with the wrought iron balcony railing, I could fit 29 small grow bags out here.

So the window boxes came down, and the grow bags went up. I have to say I have the prettiest balcony in town now. I’ve got all of my herbs out here where they are easy to snip as I need them. And so many flowers! It's a downtown pollinator paradise.

Who's Hungry?

Last week I asked what everyone eagerly anticipated eating from their garden – the one dish you can’t wait for each year. So many of you wrote back, and by the time I finished reading everyone’s emails, I was hungry!

You have to check out M. Owen’s first BLT of the season.

M. Owen of Brenham, TX makes a fine BLT

I actually got up and showed this photo to my tomatoes and said, “See, do you see this? Come on, guys, let’s get moving!” When they said talking to your plants keeps them healthy, somehow, I don’t think this is what they had in mind.

Ah well, soon enough I’ll have tomatoes coming out of my ears, and I won’t be able to give my zucchini away. Until then, we’ve got a great batch of articles to share this week. These are only a few of the new posts from this week. Head on over to the site and see for yourself.

How – and Why – to Build a Passive Solar Greenhouse

Welcome one of our newest writers, Matthew Olshan. (An interview is coming soon!) He and his wife have been building a gorgeous homestead in Pennsylvania with plans to retire here.

Matthew walks us through one of his largest projects to date – building a passive solar greenhouse.

Click Here to read

Dealing with Colorado Potato Beetle: The Most Destructive Potato Pest

Another new writer joins our ranks, Madison Moulton, and this week she’s got the answer to your potato beetle problems. These hungry little beetles can defoliate your potatoes in a matter of days. But have no fear; Madison has six organic ways to deal with these pests.

Click Here to read

10 Brilliant Uses For Rose Petals (& 7 Ways To Eat Them)

Cheryl brings us seventeen clever uses for rose petals. Rose gardeners, you’ll want to read this piece, and those that don’t grow roses may want to plant a few after reading this.

Click Here to read

That's all for this week, Rural Sprout Readers.

Sincerely,

Tracey

Editor

Rural Sprout