Like all of us, we eat an egg or two every morning, right? So what do you do with these eggshells? You throw them in the trash without even thinking, right? But did you know that these eggshells that are thrown away in vain are an object that can be of great use to your garden. But to really benefit from them, there is a right way to use them. Today, let's talk about how to beautify our garden with this secret weapon called eggshells.
Are eggshells really good for compost?
The first and most important thing to remember is that
you should never put either the egg white or the egg yolk in your compost pile . "If you put it that way, animals like rats and flies can come to your compost pile." Also, rotting eggs can cause an unbearable smell in your compost pile. However, well-ground eggshells are a great addition to compost.
Why do we need to compost? Simply put, compost is a natural fertilizer that can be made at no cost using things we throw away in our kitchen, such as dry leafy vegetables collected in the garden. Using this instead of chemical fertilizers from the store protects your soil, plants, and health.
So, why are eggshells good for compost? Eggshells contain a large amount of
calcium, an essential nutrient for plant growth. They also have several other nutrients. If you are making a worm bin, adding well-ground eggshells to it will help the worms digest their food.
Some people are afraid that the Salmonella bacteria in eggs will get into the compost. But don't worry. Just like when you cook eggs, the heat in the compost pile will kill this bacteria.
How do you prepare eggshells for use in the garden?
Eggshells can be crushed by hand when added to compost. However, if you add them in large pieces, they
will take a year or more to decompose and be incorporated into the soil. That's not a problem, but if you want quick results, there are a few ways to speed up the decomposition of eggshells.
| Method | How to do it | It is best to |
|---|
| Grinding | Dry the eggshells and grind them in a coffee grinder until they become a fine powder. Alternatively, you can use a mortar and pestle. | To quickly add calcium to the soil and to plant seedlings. |
| Drying | Before grinding, let the eggshells dry in the sun for a few days. Or place them on a tray and dry them in a low-heat oven. This will make them easier to grind. | A must-do before preparing eggshells in any way. |
| Boiling to make a liquid fertilizer | Boil about 10-20 eggshells in a pot of water. Then let the pot sit overnight. The next day, remove the eggshells and pour the water over the plants. | To be used as a liquid fertilizer that provides quick nourishment to plants. |
How do you put eggshell powder directly in the garden?
If you have ground eggshells using a grinder, you can add the powder directly to the soil in your garden. Especially when planting plants like tomatoes and chilies, you can get good results by adding about a teaspoon of this powder to the planting holes and mixing it with the soil.
Can eggshells stop blossom end rot?
This is a problem that many people face when growing tomatoes and peppers.
Blossom End Rot is when the bottom part of the plant (the side opposite the stem) turns black and starts to rot when the plant's fruit doesn't get enough calcium. This condition is mainly seen in the following crops:
Many people say that if you add a few pieces of eggshell to these plants when they are planted, this disease will not develop. But is that true?
The truth is, if you don't grind the eggshells well and put them in large pieces, they won't break down and be added to the soil quickly enough for the plant to absorb calcium . That means they won't be of any use to the plant during that season.
However, if you know that your soil is actually low in calcium (such as from a soil test), adding
finely ground eggshells to the soil can help prevent this `Blossom End Rot` condition. However, the problem is not always a lack of calcium in the soil. Sometimes, even if there is enough calcium in the soil, the plant cannot absorb it properly. This can be due to:
- Watering: Overwatering or underwatering.
- Root damage: Avoid digging the soil within a foot of the plant's trunk.
Can eggshells repel snails?
Snails are a type of animal that can cause a lot of damage to your garden. Some people believe that if you put crushed eggshells around your plants, the sharp edges will prevent the snails from getting through. However,
this is actually a myth . Studies have shown that eggshells do not have much effect on snails. Instead, you can try these methods:
- Using drip irrigation instead of sprinklers.
- Setting traps for snails.
- Applying copper barriers around plants.
So, despite some myths about eggshells, if you use them properly, crushed or boiled, you can add calcium and other valuable nutrients to your compost and garden soil. If you can get this kind of use out of something you'd normally throw away, it's great, right?
Take-Home Message
- Don't throw away eggshells. They are rich in calcium , which is essential for plants.
- For faster results, grind the eggshells into a fine powder and add them to the soil, rather than in large pieces.
- Never add egg yolks or egg whites to compost. They can attract animals and create a bad odor.
- Finely ground eggshells can help prevent blossom end rot in crops such as tomatoes, which is caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil.
- Eggshells are not an effective way to repel snails. Try other methods.
Eggshells, gardening, compost, organic fertilizer, calcium, Blossom End Rot, green gardening, composting, eggshells, natural fertilizer, garden, natural fertilizer
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