If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the plants that you grow, what would that be? Predictably, my answer to this question varies with the flow of the season. But| Rural Sprout
Lavender is one of those plants that nearly everyone has in their landscape or garden. And why not? It’s easy to maintain, the pollinators love it, and its classic scent is instantly recognizable. Not to| Rural Sprout
Fall is the perfect time to take hydrangea cuttings for new plants next year.| Rural Sprout
Many of us have bad habits we don't even know about that can spread disease in our gardens. Turn over a new leaf for healthier harvests.| Rural Sprout
By the time September rolls around, there are two types of vegetable gardeners. There are the ones that say, “Garden? What garden? That was summer. This is fall. I’m going … The post Vegetables You Can Still Plant in September (No Matter Where You Live) appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
I got the idea for this article just as I get most of my inspiration: working in the garden, noticing something, and thinking to myself, “I wonder if anyone else … The post Pop! 13 Garden Plants with Exploding Seeds appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
Oh, September, that month when the light drips with gold, the summer heat finally begins to ease up, and mornings come capped in fog and crisp air. We look forward … The post Your September Checklist for Lush Fall Flower Beds (& an Easy Spring) appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
Fall is synonymous with chrysanthemums. Those vibrant, bushy potted mums lining garden centers and grocery stores alike practically shout, “Fall is finally here!” With their deep burgundies, rusty oranges, golden … The post When to Buy Mums for Blooms That Last All Fall & What to Look For appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
There’s a subtle shift in the air when September rolls around. I can sense it, without even the slightest glance at a calendar. The light changes. The breeze changes. And … The post 10 Perennials You Should Divide in September appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
Fall is a time for cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice beer (I’ll leave the lattes to others) and chilly nights around the fire pit. It’s the time when we finish preserving … The post 15 Perennial Vegetables & Fruits to Plant in Fall & Harvest for Years appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
At the beginning of the season, we’re all guilty of sweating our tomatoes. We continually peek at them, waiting for that first tomato to ripen to perfection. And when we … The post 21 Easy Ways to Preserve Your Tomato Harvest This Year appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
Back in the late 90s there was a diaper commercial that said, “Live and learn, and get new Brand of Diapers.” This is how it is with watering raised beds. … The post The Best Way to Water Raised Beds (& it’s Hands-free) appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
When it comes to tomatoes and pepper plants, I’m always feeding an army, even though there isn’t an army in sight. I assume the worst and end up planting way … The post Cowboy Candy – the Best Thing to Do With Homegrown Jalapeños appeared first on Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
Some ornamentals, despite their beauty, should never be planted directly in the ground. These beauties are for containers only!| Rural Sprout
Propagation by division is the name given to the technique where gardeners divide perennial plants to make new ones. Division is one of the easiest methods of propagation, and is a great way to quickly| Rural Sprout
A cut-and-come-again garden involves numerous small harvests from the same plant: beet greens, chives, kale, lettuce and chard for starters.| Rural Sprout
I've been using this brand of garden pruners since 1997 and there's no way I'd switch. Here's our guide for buying the best pair of pruners for your needs.| Rural Sprout
Most people can grow tomatoes, but not everyone can produce a bountiful supply of delicious and sweet tomatoes. Follow these pro tips and you will be able to.| Rural Sprout
Tomatoes are one of the most popular edible plants to grow at home. Depending on your climate, you may grow them outdoors, or in a greenhouse or polytunnel. You might even grow them in containers| Rural Sprout
No matter what calendar month we are in, we are always pondering about the garden, whether we are dreaming about seeds, companion planting and this year's garden layout, or getting our hands dirty in it.| Rural Sprout
Potatoes are healthy, and can be used in a wide range of different recipes. But they also have a range of other beneficial properties that make them useful.| Rural Sprout
Many gardeners swear by Epsom salt as a secret weapon in their organic gardens. It can be used in range of ways, to help keep your garden in good health.| Rural Sprout
Whether you are a seasoned homesteader or a yearning-to-be homesteader, this list of self-reliant skills will give you so much to learn (plus resources to get started), that you'll never be bored again! Of course,| Rural Sprout
When the garden season is done, do you call it quits for the year or do you put a layer of mulch down? If you don't, you should. Let's talk about why.| Rural Sprout
Here are 19 organic and inorganic garden mulch options and when to use them to suppress weeds, improve soil nutrients and enhance beauty.| Rural Sprout
When you can't eat another bite of pesto, but you've still got tons of fresh basil, we've got some great ideas to help you use it all up.| Rural Sprout
Have you ever selected and planted a beautiful young tomato plant only to find it growing erratically and under-producing? Or perhaps your plant buckles over under the weight of too much fruit? What you might| Rural Sprout
Jade are one of the quintessential succulent house plants that almost everyone can recognize and most plant lovers to keep in their home. Not yet got your own Jade plant? Get started with a healthy,| Rural Sprout
If you've got a ton of basil on your hands, I'll show you four ways to freeze it - including my super simple basil freezing hack.| Rural Sprout
Grow your own food, become a pro homesteader and create a natural, happy home with expert advice from Rural Sprout.| Rural Sprout
The first frost marks the end of the growing season for many plants. But some thrive in winter. Here are 10 veggies that taste better after frost.| Rural Sprout
Make a hotbed for winter growing and you can extend your growing season and eat from your garden all year round. This is an easy and simple DIY project.| Rural Sprout
Polytunnel, hoop house, row cover – whatever you want to call it, they’re dead useful in the garden. There are plenty of benefits to be gained by adding a polytunnel to your gardening space. They’re| Rural Sprout
These red flags reveal raised bed soil that needs a little compost and TLC. Here's what they are and how to save your soil.| Rural Sprout
Doing these August garden jobs can decide how your garden will end this year and how next year’s garden will begin.| Rural Sprout
As the garden season is winding down, here are the gardening tools and products I reached for time and again to get the job done in 2025.| Rural Sprout
August is the perfect time to go shopping for next year's flowers - right in your flower bed. Save these seeds!| Rural Sprout
Garden trends are nothing new. But which ones stand the test of time? Here are five popular trends that I've decided to compost.| Rural Sprout
Dahlias are some of the most stunning flowers you can grow each year, but they can also be divas. If your dahlias aren't blooming, here's why.| Rural Sprout
August is the perfect time to take cuttings from your garden and have plants ready to go in the ground next spring!| Rural Sprout
Summer is drawing to a close, but there are still quite a few vegetables you can plant in August based on your USDA hardiness zone.| Rural Sprout
Powdery mildew is the most common disease to attack squash, zucchini, & pumpkins. Use our tips to beat it and still have a great harvest.| Rural Sprout
Smudging your home comes with many benefits, from cleansing the air to creating a calm and peaceful space. However, if the burning of herbs to cleanse your aura and your home of negative energies sounds| Rural Sprout
Rabbits might be cute – with their huge ears, soft furry bodies, bunny hops, and wiggly noses – but that adorableness quickly fades once you see the damage they can do to your vegetable crops!| Rural Sprout
Living right in the middle of Pennsylvania State Game Lands meant I would often enjoy my morning cup of coffee while watching a family of deer drinking water from the pond at the bottom of| Rural Sprout
If you've ever wondered how hard it would be to grow your own poppy seeds, wonder no longer. It's quite easy to do!| Rural Sprout
I’m going to go out on a limb here and make a rather bold claim. Bee balm needs to be in everyone’s backyard. Yup, if you grow flowering plants, bee balm should be among them.| Rural Sprout
If you have a shady spot in your garden, don't let it go to waste. Some vegetables actually taste better when grown in the shade.| Rural Sprout
Seed tape is so easy to make and makes planting tiny seeds much easier. Don’t you just love a salad made with lettuce straight from the garden? But planting lettuce is another matter. Those tiny| Rural Sprout
Heirloom, organic, open-pollinated - there's a lot to consider when buying garden seeds. Here's everything you need to know and 11 best places to source seeds.| Rural Sprout
If you're in the market for an LED grow light I'm sure you're a little overwhelmed. I break down the hype from the facts to help you decide.| Rural Sprout
In the realm of gardening, deadheading is one of everyone’s least favorite activities. It’s right up there with weeding. When it comes to roses, deadheading often falls in the realm of “Dang it, I knew| Rural Sprout
If you're looking for stunning blooms from your hydrangeas, you'll need to be sure you're fertilizing them properly.| Rural Sprout
It's August, the last stretch of summer, and time to give our flowers a little TLC. Deadheading these plants will keep your flower beds tidy.| Rural Sprout
As gardeners, we've all been told to practice crop rotation. But what if it's all for nothing because it was never meant for home gardens?| Rural Sprout
In a classic tale of taking over someone else’s choices when you buy a place, when we moved into our current home and garden, I inherited a rose plant. I say “plant” because I did| Rural Sprout
For a truly extraordinary plant array, check out these beautiful and unusual cultivars that emphasize strange shapes, bold colors, and inspiring blooms.| Rural Sprout
Spider plants are one of the most popular houseplants and one of the easiest to propagate - both with or without baby spider plants.| Rural Sprout
Easily propagate your snake plant with one of these four methods. This hardy houseplant will repay you with plenty of new plants.| Rural Sprout
If you want to learn how to propagate new plants from your Christmas cactus this step-by-step guide is all you need.| Rural Sprout
The Hoya plant, also known as a “wax plant” is native to China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and are also found in the Philippines and Australia. Hoya plants such as Hoya carnosa are known as| Rural Sprout
Houseplants do a lot to make a house a home. They clean the air we breathe, filtering out more than just CO2. Houseplants improve our concentration and productivity and even brighten our moods. Having plants| Rural Sprout
If you own a Christmas cactus here are ten things you need to know to keep your plant healthy for decades to come.| Rural Sprout
We tackle 13 of the most common Christmas cactus plant problems, and show you how to diagnose and treat them.| Rural Sprout
Your Christmas cactus may not be a Christmas cactus at all. Here's how to identify your plant, plus how to care for holiday cacti and get more blooms.| Rural Sprout
Tomato blight of any kind can end your tomato growing season before it even begins. Find out how to fight these nasty fungi.| Rural Sprout
For the best fall harvest, prune your tomatoes in the late summer. But hang on to those tomato leaves, they can be used in two great ways!| Rural Sprout
If you’re growing tomatoes (whether it’s your first year or your fiftieth), you’ve probably noticed that as the season progresses, the leaves towards the bottom of the plant turn yellow. So what’s going on? Should| Rural Sprout
Image Credit: US Census Bureau / Esri If you’ve been gardening in the United States, you’ve probably consulted the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map at least once. The PHZM or, as gardeners lovingly call it,| Rural Sprout
Looking to elevate your gardening game this spring? Consider skipping buying transplants and starting seeds at home instead. Seed starting allows you to begin the fun of gardening season a few months earlier than your| Rural Sprout
Growing an herbal tea garden is a great way to add color and beauty and with only a handful of popular plants, you can create some incredible tea blends.| Rural Sprout
Are you tired of growing sparse patches of parsley? Here's our guide to growing massive bunches of parsley and everything you can make with it!| Rural Sprout
Everything you need to know to grow this fragrant herb in your garden or on a windowsill. Lemon balm deserves a spot in your herb garden!| Rural Sprout
Propagation is the cheapest way to reach your houseplant wish list goals. We've rounded up a list of the easiest houseplants to propagate.| Rural Sprout
Nothing beats the flavor of cooking with fresh herbs, but what are the best culinary herbs to grow in your herb garden? We reveal the best.| Rural Sprout
The hardest work of the gardening season is over, and you’re bringing in your potato harvest. Or maybe you've visited your local farmers' market and got a little carried away buying farm fresh potatoes. Nights| Rural Sprout
Shaking or buzzing your tomatoes is a great way to ensure you end up with the most tomatoes possible this year.| Rural Sprout
Are you craving a taste of the tropics from your home garden? Consider the ground cherry. This humble berry is easy to grow and tastes reminiscent of mango mixed with pineapple. Best of all, it| Rural Sprout
How it started, how it's going. It appears we can thank the French for taking the headache out of growing indeterminate tomatoes. I’ve expressed my annoyance with their annual habit of taking over the garden| Rural Sprout
Determinate tomatoes are the scrappy, short guys of the tomato world. These compact, bushy varieties have been bred to grow to a certain height, set all their fruit within a short window, and then call| Rural Sprout
A hori hori is really the ideal tool for us easily distracted gardeners. Maybe you know the drill. You set out into the garden with a specific task in mind and you spot a clump| Rural Sprout
Encourage more of your tomato blossoms to set fruit with these clever ways to hand pollinate your tomato plants. It only takes a second!| Rural Sprout
Whether you want a tiny greenhouse for a few tomato plants or a giant structure for feeding your entire family, we have a DIY greenhouse for you.| Rural Sprout
A 55 gallon barrel can have a huge range of uses in your home and garden. Here we reveal 40 of the best ideas from all over the web.| Rural Sprout
Grab a five-gallon bucket or two and grow yourself some future French fries. It's so easy and yields pounds of potatoes in a tiny space.| Rural Sprout
Fall is finally here with it’s cool, crisp weather and pumpkin spice everything. The changing fall foliage is beautiful too, until it starts coating your lawn and needs to be dealt with. But wait! Don’t| Rural Sprout
If you've never tried garlic scapes, you have no idea what you are missing. Here's how to harvest them and delicious ways to use them.| Rural Sprout
It's never too late to plant seeds in the garden - except when it is covered by snow! Let's not skip seasons too rapidly though, we are still in the abundant harvest of autumn. There| Rural Sprout
This little pruning trick will allow you to grow super-sized basil plants so you can enjoy all the pesto you've ever dreamed of.| Rural Sprout
Remember when fireflies were flickering and lighting up the the night sky in the thousands, sometime around midsummer? At present, that childhood joy is but a regional occurrence. The last time I saw just a| Rural Sprout
Have you ever heard of anise hyssop? I hadn’t until a few years ago when a generous gardening friend shared an extra plant she had oversown. That first spring, I was hooked. My love story| Rural Sprout
When you reside in climate with a winter solstice, any way you can extend the growing season is an absolute win. For many, starting seeds indoors will help to jump start gardening operations. By sowing| Rural Sprout
Lettuce grows easily almost anywhere, making it the perfect crop for cool weather. When you plant your own lettuce, it provides lots of leafy green salads for harvesting.| Rural Sprout
If you’re lucky enough to have an asparagus bed, you’ll benefit from eating home-grown vegetables earlier in the season than almost anyone else. Crisp and tender stalks make this hardy perennial a popular choice for| Rural Sprout
Forget about fertilizing, daily watering and pruning, these low maintenance houseplants are so easy to care for anyone can grow them.| Rural Sprout
It's incredible how many plants there are in the average garden that you can grow again next season for free. Many gardeners take this fact for granted and purchase seed packets, or nursery starts year| Rural Sprout
In late winter, beginning to chit seed potatoes can give you a good headstart on the gardening year. Learn what chitting is, and how to do it.| Rural Sprout
Sowing seeds is one of the most exciting gardening tasks. You get to take an incredibly tiny seed and turn it into an entire plant, watching it grow. Besides the seeds themselves, an essential part| Rural Sprout
Dried apples, bananas, apricots, plums and fragrant strawberries all make for happy, healthy snacks that can be added to your breakfast muesli or eaten on the go. Kids just happen to love them too! The| Rural Sprout
The heat and humidity of summer makes many things grow bushy and tall. If you have a garden, you'll find that this also applies to the abundance of greens you never planted, the wild ones| Rural Sprout
