How to Use Eggshells in Your Garden for Healthier Plants
If you find yourself here, then you are probably looking for natural ways to boost plant health in your metal raised garden beds or other planters. Well, we’re happy to tell you that eggshells in the raised beds are one of the easiest and most effective solutions. So, from now on, try not to toss them in the trash- we don’t! Instead, you can put them to good use in your garden. They help improve soil quality, deter pests, and provide essential nutrients for optimal plant growth. However, bear in mind that not all plants love eggshells, and before you add them, you need to know a few things.
In this guide, we will go over which plants don’t like eggshells, which thrive with their help, and how to use eggshells for plant to get the best results.
What Plants Don’t Like Eggshells?
Let’s start by pointing out when it’s not advisable to use eggshells for plant. While they are rich in calcium and other beneficial minerals, some plants don’t really like them. Here are a few that you might want to take note of:
- Acidity Plants – Blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas prefer acidic soil. However, the eggshells tend to raise soil pH and make it more alkaline. So, we advise you not to use eggshells in flower beds where you grow these plants. It probably won’t be the best idea - unless your soil is extremely acidic.
- Carrots and Radishes – Root crops like carrots and radishes can grow unevenly if the calcium levels in the soil are too high. If you want straight, healthy root vegetables, try not to add too many eggshells to the soil.
- Beans and Peas – These legumes fix their own nitrogen levels and generally prefer a more neutral soil. If you add too many eggshells in the garden where they grow you might disrupt their nutrient balance.
Now, there might come a time when you won’t be sure if your soil needs calcium. In such cases, it is always a good idea to test the pH level before you add a large amount of eggshells in the garden.
What Plants Like Eggshells?
On the other hand, there are plenty of plants out there that love the calcium boost. Growing these particular plants, we recommend you add eggshells to improve their growth. Here are some of the most popular examples:
- Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants – These members of the nightshade family are prone to blossom-end rot. For those of you who are not familiar with this, it is a condition caused by calcium deficiency. Naturally, when you add eggshells for plant health here, you can help prevent this issue and encourage stronger growth.
- Cabbage, Broccoli, and Cauliflower – These wonderful crops thrive on additional calcium. Crushed eggshells around their base – that’s all you need to do. This can improve the overall plant health and structure, too.
- Roses – Add some eggshells in your flower beds with roses. It can enhance their growth and prevent some of the most common fungal diseases.
- Fruit Trees – Apple, pear, and citrus trees benefit from calcium-rich soil. This makes eggshells an excellent addition to orchards.
When you know which plants thrive on eggshells in the garden, you can make so much more progress and make sure your crops get all the nutrients they need.
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How to Use Eggshells in the Garden
Now that you are aware of which plants love (and don’t love) eggshells, let's go over some of the best ways to use them in your gardens. Did you really think we would go on without this part? It’s the most important one! Let’s take a look.
1. Crushed Eggshells as Fertilizer
One of the simplest ways to use eggshells for plant health is to crush them and mix them into the soil. If you want to do this, here’s what you need to do:
- First off, thoroughly rinse the eggshells and let them dry.
- Then, crush them into small pieces with your hands, a rolling pin, or a blender.
- Finally, sprinkle the crushed shells around the base of the plants that need extra calcium.
This slow-release fertilizer will help improve soil quality over time and provide a natural calcium source for our plants. Here are two articles introducing other organic fertilizers you may want to use in your raised garden. 10 Types of Fertilizer You Haven't Tried; Ways To Recycle Your Food Waste As Fertilizer. Read them now.
2. Eggshell Tea for a Quick Calcium Boost
If we need to give plants an immediate calcium boost, what we do is make eggshell tea. Here’s how we do it:
- We boil a handful of crushed eggshells in a gallon of water for about 5 minutes.
- Then, we let the mixture cool and we strain out the shells.
- We use the water to hydrate our plants and add essential nutrients.
This method is especially useful for indoor plants or container gardens that might lack natural mineral sources.
3. Pest Control with Eggshells
Garden pests like slugs and snails hate crawling over sharp objects. If you throw around some crushed eggshells in the garden, you can create a natural barrier that keeps these pests away from your plants. Simply sprinkle crushed eggshells around your plants which are prone to slug damage.
4. Start Seeds in Eggshells
You probably didn’t know this, but eggshells make up for fantastic starters. Here’s how to do it:
- Fill half an eggshell with soil.
- Plant a seed inside and water it lightly.
Once the seedling starts to grow, plant the whole shell in the ground. You don’t need to remove the shell, as it will break down naturally and enrich the soil.
5. Add Eggshells to The Compost
For those of us who compost, eggshells in garden compost piles are a great way to boost the calcium content of our compost. We have discovered it works wonders, so this is the last tip we have to share with you. Just be sure to crush the shells first to help them break down faster.
Conclusion
Eggshells for plant health is a simple and cost-effective way to improve your garden. With them, you can fertilize, control pests, start seeds, and improve the soil. All you need to remember is that it is important to apply them to the correct plants. If you loved this article, we have a lot more for you in store – keep on reading!
