Liana Blomquist was evoke between the town of Grasse in France — which is known as the perfume capital of the world — and the suburbs of New Jersey . “ I grew up skirt by greenery and garden , ” she recalls . These days , Blomquist has transport those plastic environmental influence into runningBrooklyn Rooftop Botanicals , where she seeks to merge together the land and knockout world .
“ I do grow some veggies and quite a mickle of herbs , but my primary focus is beauty botanical , which are mainly herbaceous plant and flowers , ” excuse Blomquist . She broadcasts her mission “ develop and have mantrap on my rooftop ” via her popularInstagramaccount .
We spoke to Blomquist about the complex challenge of rooftop grow and striving to embrace sustainable practice . We also draw into the joyousness of cucuamelons .
The Roots of a Rooftop Garden
A post deal by Brooklyn Rooftop Botanicals ( @brooklynrooftopbotanicals )
Blomquist ’s rooftop growing journey began when she had access to a small windowsill , where she dabble with growing strawberry and herbs . After move to an apartment in Brooklyn , New York , she “ suddenly had approach to a real out-of-door space . ”
“ I started growing a bunch of elementary veg and efflorescence to cover on with my hobby , ” she recalls . “ But after a bit of research I derive to the reason that I could actually farm a destiny of powerful botanicals to make my very own knockout products to experience a more ego - sufficient and sustainable life . ”
Read more : Learn more about sustainable rooftop garden !
Rooftop Gardening Challenges
“ Growing on a rooftop throws a fate of complexities at you , ” explain Blomquist . “ You have the intense sun and the wind to engagement on a casual fundament , which are a lot solid up on a rooftop versus at ground level . ” She adds that this signify you “ have to opine about tad structures and plant support systems . ”
There ’s also the issue of water availability . “ It can be challenging when seek to irrigate 50 to 60 different plants , ” she pronounce , “ and when convey soil and stuff up and down four flight of stairs . ”
Beware Overwatering!
Speaking of watering , Blomquist tell that an early moral she learned about the dynamics of rooftop growing is to forfend the temptation to overwater . “ It ’s the expectant plant killer , ” she says . “ A pot of people fail to realise this . ”
Blomquist add that as she ’s progressed as a rooftop gardener , she ’s “ learned to accept failure and to be more springy . When you ’re dealing with nature , anything can materialise . ”
learn more : Do you have a farm water system backup plan ?
Sustainable Rooftop Tips
When it get to incorporate sustainable originate techniques into Brooklyn Rooftop Botanicals , Blomquist says she uses a rolling composter to twist kitchen scraps and tear up toilet paper axial motion into her own compost .
“ This facilitate to revive my ground class after twelvemonth so I can reuse it alternatively of throwing it out , ” she explains . ”I also start a plenty of my germ using toilet newspaper rolls and salad containers that I rinse and use again year after year .
“ Most importantly , I try and upcycle planters , pots and tomato plant cages whenever I can . This yr I ’m put to work to have a fully solar - powered rainfall barrel irrigation system of rules so I can focus more of my time on pushing the plants to their limits . ”
Spotlighting Roses and Tomatoes
bet back over last season ’s rooftop bounty , Blomquist says that she ’s particularly proud of the roses , chamomile and cornflowers that she grew on the botanical side of things .
When it come to veg , she put a particular focusing on heirloom Lycopersicon esculentum .
“ I had taken the germ from a tomato I bought from the McCarren Park farmers grocery , ” she says . “ It was one of the respectable tomatoes I had ever tasted , so I wanted to recreate it on the rooftop . It definitely did not disappoint , and I will be growing more this year ! ”
Behold the Cucamelon
Alongside tomatoes , dinky cucamelons also star on Blomquist ’s rooftop last twelvemonth .
“ Cucamelons are so incredibly fun to grow — albeit ho-hum to start out — and easy to incorporate into many dishes , ” she says . “ I actually really enjoy just exhaust them raw with strawberries . I also loved take a shit a Greek salad with them with my cherry Lycopersicon esculentum ! ”
