I believe the most sustainable way to fight food waste is by using every piece of food – even what we would consider scraps. While we can throw things like eggshells and coffee grounds into our compost bin, there’s another way to use them for better results. In fact, egg shells can be a valuable resource in your garden. Their high calcium carbonate content makes them an excellent soil amendment and natural fertilizer. It’s a great idea to use food scraps in your garden instead of buying calcium supplements. Here’s a detailed guide on how to effectively utilize eggshells to enhance your garden’s health and productivity.
Benefits of Using Egg Shells in the Garden
There are a few reasons why using eggshells in your garden is beneficial. Let’s talk about it.
Using eggshells is a great way to get a little extra calcium in your garden. Eggshells are renowned for their high calcium content, which is essential for healthy plant growth. It’s also a great way to prevent blossom-end rot in tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. If you’re not familiar, blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium, which turns your produce black at the bottom, while looking fresh at the top.
Additionally, they contribute to soil structure, deter pests like slugs with their sharp edges, and naturally balance soil acidity. Other creatures, like worms, love the eggshells for friction as they move through the soil. There’s a few ways you can add your eggshells to the garden, so pick which one works best for you.
It’s worthwhile to note that calcium release is not immediate, and can take a little bit of time to see the benefits.
Safety Considerations for Using Eggshells in the Garden
While eggshells are a great source of calcium and help with pest control, handling raw eggshells carries a risk of salmonella contamination. It’s always a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly after handling any eggs. There are a few “kill steps” (ways we can kill the germs) that we’ll talk about, which are helpful in making sure you get the best results.
No matter the method of using the eggshells in the garden, it’s important to start with rinsing the egg shells before you get started.
- Leave them out in the sun – Let your eggshells sit out on a towel for a long time, a couple of hours or the next day should be fine
- Microwave them – Place eggshells in a microwave-safe container and heat on high for a few minutes, checking for dryness.
- Dry them in the oven – Bake them in the oven at 200F for 20 mins to activate the calcium and kill off any pathogens
Preparation Methods: How to Use Egg Shells In Your Garden
Whether you’re making a big batch of a quiche that creates lots of egg shells or just collecting them over time, you’ll want to start with a bunch of empty shells. There are a few different ways that egg shells can be used for garden use. First, rinse them thoroughly to remove any residue and allow them to dry completely. Here’s a few ways you can can use them in your vegetable garden.
Using Eggshells Directly in the Garden
For immediate benefits, place eggshell halves directly into the soil near seedlings or crush them and mix into planting holes. Adding them directly into the soil (whole) provides a very slow-release calcium source that promotes strong root development and resilience against calcium deficiencies.
Incorporating Eggshells into Compost
Integrating eggshells into your compost enriches organic matter and accelerates the decomposition process. Whether added to a compost pile or bin, crushed eggshells contribute to nutrient-rich compost that enhances soil fertility over time. If you have a worm bin, I hear worms really like the egg shells too!
DIY Eggshell Powder
For convenience, grind cleaned and dried eggshells into a fine powder using a coffee grinder or a food processor. Then it’s ready for mixing into garden soil or adding to compost for a calcium-rich supplement. If you have extra, store them in a cool dry place in an eco friendly container like a mason jar.
Applying Eggshells for Pest Control
The sharp edges of crushed eggshells deter pests like slugs and snails, protecting delicate plants without harmful chemicals. Additionally, incorporating diatomaceous earth with eggshells enhances pest control effectiveness naturally.
Addressing Calcium Deficiency
Identifying signs of calcium deficiency in plants, such as blossom end rot, stunted growth or leaf yellowing, signals the need for supplemental calcium. Eggshells provide a sustainable, organic solution to replenish essential nutrients and fortify plant cell walls.
Using Eggshells for Soil pH Balance
Beyond calcium enrichment, eggshells influence soil pH by neutralizing acidity, particularly beneficial for acidic soils. Balancing soil pH optimizes nutrient uptake and supports a diverse range of plant species throughout the gardening seasons.
Other Sustainable Gardening Practices
By recycling kitchen waste like eggshells, gardeners reduce landfill contributions and enrich soil with valuable organic materials. Embracing sustainable gardening practices fosters environmental stewardship and long-term garden vitality. Here are some other ways you can use food scraps in the garden:
Environmental Benefits of Using Egg Shells
Utilizing eggshells diverts kitchen waste from landfills, reducing environmental impact while enhancing soil fertility naturally. Their integration into gardening routines promotes a circular economy of organic matter utilization.
Practical Tips for Eggshell Usage
Incorporating eggshells into your gardening practices offers a range of benefits. From enhancing soil fertility and pest control to promoting sustainable food usage. Gardeners can capture the power of the calcium in egg shells. This allows them to cultivate healthier plants and contribute to environmental conservation through simple, eco-friendly methods.
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