Can Eggshells Prevent Blossom End Rot? (2024)

FAQs

Can Eggshells Prevent Blossom End Rot? ›

Verdict: Eggshells do not prevent blossom end rot. The good news is that they won't harm your soil or plants and they add organic material for soil organisms, but you may as well just put them in the compost.

Preventing blossom end rot

Keep plants well mulched and watered through the growing season. Water deeply at least once per week if rainfall is lacking. A mature tomato plant may require 2-3 gallons of water per week. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers like ammonium nitrate.

Most of us have heard that eggshells can help increase the calcium in our garden soil, and some of us may have even tried it in our own yards. The goal is to help prevent blossom end rot on tomatoes and other plants affected by calcium deficiency. As it turns out, using eggshells really doesn't fix anything.

If you don't grind the eggshell into powder, as explained above, the eggshell pieces won't decompose fast enough to do your plants any good. But if soil tests show that your garden soil does lack calcium, adding ground eggshells to the soil could help prevent blossom end rot.

The shell of a chicken egg is comprised of about 96% calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Calcium is an essential plant nutrient and moderates soil acidity. Fast-growing plants deplete the soil of calcium very quickly so egg shells are an ideal supplement and feed for outdoor flowers, vegetables and fruit trees in your garden.

There are plenty of natural options to increase the calcium in your soil with methods that range from adding lime to clamshell flour and wood ashes to bone meal. What is the best source of calcium for plants? Gypsum and lime are two of the best sources of calcium for plants.

Coffee grounds are packed with nutrients that tomato plants love, like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. They help improve soil structure and promote microbial activity, which can lead to healthier, more robust tomato plants. Plus, they may even help deter certain pests.

Wondering what plants don't like eggshells? It's best to avoid using them on varieties that naturally prefer more acidic soil, such as azaleas and geraniums.

If you don't have a hot compost, we recommend giving the eggshells a quick wash before they plunge into your pile.

Depending on the size of your garden, compile enough of each component to contribute a moderate amount to each hungry plant. Combine the two together, crush the eggshells by hand even more (which should be easier now that they're fully dry), and sprinkle the mixture across the soil bed.

How often should I add eggshells to my plants? ›

But don't go overboard. Since it takes a while for the shells to decompose, Uyterhoeven recommends applying eggshell fertilizer to your garden or indoor plants just twice a year—in the fall and spring.

If you want pink hydrangeas, crushed eggshells may be one way to get them. Eggshells will slowly break down and reduce the acidity of your soil—making it harder for hydrangeas to absorb aluminum.

Plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in particular will benefit from shell fertilizer, Savio said. The extra calcium will help prevent blossom-end rot. Broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, spinach and amaranth are also calcium-packed and could use extra from eggshells.

Blossom-end rot is a physiological disease caused by a localized deficiency of calcium in the fruit.

Deficiencies in calcium and magnesium often go hand in hand. A calcium-magnesium supplement is often recommended. This type of supplement is effective when mixed with the soil or used in a grow room. It works slowly and will raise the calcium level during the next few months.