The next time you crack a few eggs to make breakfast or for baking, don’t toss away the shells as they can be a great organic additive to your garden. Crushed eggshells can add valuable nutrients back into the soil with the high-level of calcium being very beneficial to plants. So, with Easter just around the corner, and the sun finally out, now is a great time to get out in the garden and utilise a traditional kind of egg.
Plant pots for germination
Creating your own egg shell planters for seedlings to nest and grow is an economical and sustainable way to start gardening. Egg shells are an organic material and full of calcium which helps plants thrive, so once you’re ready to bring them outside, you can put the entire shell into the ground where it will nourish both the soil and your plants. Since space is limited in your egg shell planters, we recommend growing smaller plants like herbs and flowers.
Instructions
- Start saving your egg shells from breakfast. Halve them and make sure you rinse them out thoroughly.
- Using a small needle, make a small hole in the base of each egg shell for drainage.
- Using a teaspoon, add seed compost to the egg shell. A special seed compost allows the root system to grow freely creating a strong and healthy plant.
- Add the seeds to the soil and slightly push down gently just until the seeds are fully covered. Herbs are fun and easy to grow. Try basil, parsley, cress and chives.
- Position on your windowsill in an egg carton and using a spray bottle, gently mist each egg shell with water every two to three days.
When your seedlings have grown a couple of inches tall, it’s time to transplant them out into your garden or container. Gently crush the outside of the egg and plant the eggshell inside of the new pot or garden, making sure it is completely buried. The egg shell will naturally decompose in the soil, giving your plants extra nutrients, making them both healthy and strong.
Fertiliser
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.
During the winter months, crush the shells by using a mortar and pestle and sprinkle over the container or garden border where you will plant come springtime. Alternatively, you can add crumbled eggshell directly into the bottoms of your planting holes. It is beneficial to use egg shells when growing your own vegetables like tomato, pepper and aubergine or plants such as roses, hydrangeas, spider plants, ferns and ivy.
Another way to add this homemade fertiliser to your plants is through a calcium solution. You can finely crush the shells and turn it into water-soluble calcium that can be added to your watering can, and will be easily absorbed by the plant’s root system.
Pest deterrent
Egg shells can also be used as a form of organic pest control. If you have problems with slugs and snails or crawling pests in your garden, try sprinkling crumbled eggshells around the plants where these little critters like to gather. The shells act like shards of glass which will keep them at bay around your delicate plants.
If growing brassicas, the egg shells are also believed to deter cabbage white butterfly who mistake the white sheen as other competitors. Cats don't like walking on noisy, sticky, or sharp things so if you have a furry friend that likes using your garden bed as a litter tray, egg shells are the perfect solution.
Composting
You can add almost anything organic to a compost heap that is “green and brown.” Egg shells break down over time and because they are full of essential nutrients like calcium, minerals and proteins, are ideal for your compost bin.
Make sure you wash your egg shells before adding them to compost so that they don’t attract animals. You will need to crush them to a powder, which when added to your compost will benefit plant growth and aids in building cell walls. The egg shell pieces come out small this way and are rarely noticeable amongst the compost and mulch.
Making use of the egg shells in the garden is an economical way to recycle something that is normally seen as waste and thrown away.
For more garden inspiration and repurposing projects:
Top 5 gardening projects for new gardeners
Create creature comfort with a bug hotel in your garden
Make your own coloured terracotta pot birdhouse
How to create a DIY propagator reusing household waste
FAQs
The egg shell will naturally decompose in the soil, giving your plants extra nutrients, making them both healthy and strong. The shell of a chicken egg is comprised of about 96% calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Calcium is an essential plant nutrient and moderates soil acidity.
What plants don't like eggshells? ›
Most flowers will also benefit, as will many succulents (just don't overwater them). 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.
Do you wash egg shells before putting in the garden? ›
If you don't have a hot compost, we recommend giving the eggshells a quick wash before they plunge into your pile.
What vegetables like egg shells? ›
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.
How to prepare egg shells for the garden? ›
Instructions
- Save eggshells in a sealed container or plastic bag.
- Rinse the shells to remove egg residue.
- Lay shells evenly on a sheet pan.
- Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes to dry the shells.
- Transfer shells to a food processor and pulse until finely crushed.
Eggshells can be a good source of calcium and organic matter for tomatoes, but they are unlikely to yield a major improvement in soil calcium levels. You can add eggshells to your garden by drying, crushing, and incorporating them into the soil, or by composting them.
Which flowers like eggshells? ›
Plants like tomatoes, hydrangeas, eggplants, roses, cabbage, squash, and peppers will love the added calcium boost. However, you should avoid using eggshell fertilizer on acid-loving plants, like blueberries, azaleas, and geraniums, if you already have soil that is veering towards alkaline.
Do cucumbers like eggshells? ›
Crushed eggshells are one of the best fertilizers for your cucumber garden, ensuring they get all the nutrients they need to grow big and crispy. They're packed with plant-loving compounds like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium, which are typically found in most fertilizers.
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.
What plants don't like coffee grounds? ›
Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass. Conversely, grounds (used as mulch and compost) improve yields of soybeans and cabbage.
Are coffee grounds good for plants? Coffee grounds are an excellent compost ingredient and are fine to apply directly onto the soil around most garden plants if used with care and moderation. Coffee grounds contain nutrients that plants use for growth.
Do peppers like eggshells? ›
It is beneficial to use egg shells when growing your own vegetables like tomato, pepper and aubergine or plants such as roses, hydrangeas, spider plants, ferns and ivy. Another way to add this homemade fertiliser to your plants is through a calcium solution.
Do you wash eggshells before putting in the garden? ›
Clean Eggshells are Safe Eggshells
Eggs are known carriers of salmonella, which should not be present on uncracked eggs that have been well washed, but you never know. Unless the only place the eggshells are going is into the compost bucket, I rinse them well and let them dry in a sunny windowsill.
Where should I put eggshells in my garden? ›
I sprinkle them in the holes before planting, providing our plants with essential nutrients like calcium, potassium and magnesium. Plus, the sharp edges act as a natural pest deterrent, keeping unwanted critters away from the roots and plants. It's a simple yet effective way to nourish our garden and keep it thriving!
Are coffee grounds and eggshells good for plants? ›
Coffee grounds contain compounds that feed healthy soil but they don't lower pH. Eggshells do not prevent blossom end rot. They add organic material for soil organisms, but you may as well just put them in the compost. Epsom salts can be harmful to soil, plants and water.
What pests do eggshells deter? ›
For maximum effect, sprinkle eggshells into each hole before planting. Then sprinkle additional shells around the base of your plants every two weeks. Slugs, snails, and cutworms can do severe damage to your garden. Protect your plants from these pests by spreading coarsely crushed eggshells around your garden.
Which plants benefit from coffee grounds? ›
Acidic-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and roses will benefit from a sprinkling of coffee grounds around the base of plants. Vegetable crops that may benefit from coffee grounds include carrots, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, and radishes.
