In spring, the garden plants slowly begin to come out of winter dormancy and sprout again. Especially then it is important to provide them with the necessary nutrients. Ahomemade fertilizercan help with that. We explain how you can use eggshells as fertilizer in the garden and thus lime the soil.
Use eggshells as fertilizer in the garden: important nutrients and high lime content
Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say thatjust waste: The eggshells are rich in calcium, phosphorus and magnesium and can provide the lawn and garden plants with the nutrients.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of eggshells is that they contain calcium carbonate. The calcareous substance is used to stabilize the pH value of the garden soil. The lime in the eggshells is gradually released, very slowly over a longer period of time. The eggshells are therefore perfect as a long-term fertilizer for soils with a pH value between 5 and 7. Over time, calcium ions are released, which improve soil fertility.
The effect of eggshells does not only depend on thepH value of the garden soil, but also by its composition. If the soil is loose, you can simply grind the eggshells and sprinkle them directly onto the soil.
To make compacted soil with a high clay or loam content permeable, you should also add wood ash or coffee grounds to the fertilizer. They work significantly faster and help to increase the pH value.
4 important advantages of a lime fertilizer made from eggshells
- The eggshells help to keep the pH value within the optimal limits and make the soil neutral again.
- The fruits of certain crops can sometimes turn gray-brown if they do not receive enough calcium from the soil. Such plants are, for example, tomatoes.
- Some hobby gardeners also claim that the eggshells can protect plants from pests. Apparently the edges of the eggshells are too sharp and the snails cannot crawl over them.
- A fertilizer made from eggshells promotes root growth. In 2019, Indian researchers dhe positive effect of a fertilizerscientifically proven from egg and fruit shells.
Can you use eggshells as fertilizer for all garden plants?
You can use eggshells as fertilizer for almost all plants. The home remedy is particularly suitable for use in the kitchen garden. Fruit trees such as apples, various berry bushes, as well as vegetables such as lettuces, tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers will benefit from this. The fertilizer can also promote the growth of various flowers such as roses, peonies and chrysanthemums. You can even fertilize succulents with eggshell powder if you add some potassium nitrate.
But there are also plants that can become sick from large amounts of calcium. These include azaleas, geraniums, violets and other flowers, perennials and grasses that prefer acidic soil. The eggshells are also not suitable as fertilizer for spinach and cabbage.
Are eggshells suitable as fertilizer for potted plants?
Unlike in flower beds, potted plants have to cope with a limited volume of soil. Over-fertilization could have serious consequences for the plants. Therefore, you should fertilize the potted plants very carefully. It's best to first measure the pH of the soil with a test strip. If it is below 7 and the potted plants prefer neutral or slightly alkaline soil, then you can add one teaspoon per 10 liters of soil volume.
Make your own fertilizer from eggshells and compost for the vegetable garden
Wash the eggshells and rinse well under running water. Line a windowsill with newspaper, place the eggshells on top and let them dry. Then grind the peels (make sure to wear a face mask) and sprinkle the powder on the vegetable patch. In the kitchen garden, you can put some powder directly into the hole when planting in spring. It's best to mix it with some compost.
Fertilize the flowers in the garden with eggshells and coffee grounds
2. Grind the eggshells finely and pour them into a plastic cup. Add coffee grounds, mix well and use them to fertilize the ornamental garden. Since the coffee grounds increase the acidity in the soil and the eggshells - vice versa - lower it, the fertilizer is suitable for nutrient-poor soils with a neutral pH value.
Fertilizer made from eggshells and onion shells for the lawn
3. Bring three liters of water to the boil and pour into a large container. Add the shells of twenty chicken eggs to the water and let them steep overnight. The next day, remove the peels. Then heat water and pour it into a clean container. Add onion peels, let steep for about 30 minutes and then strain. Add the onion water to the eggshell broth. You can use this to fertilize ornamental grasses - pour the liquid fertilizer directly into the root area of the grasses.
You can also use the broth to fertilize the lawn (as long as the lawn area is not too large).
How often can you fertilize the plants in the garden?
If theSoil pHis between 5 and 7, then you can fertilize the garden plants twice a year - in spring and summer.
If the soil is heavy and acidic, you can even fertilize the plants three times a year.
You should only fertilize potted plants with eggshells when necessary. But be sure to measure the pH of the soil first.
