Gardeners should keep hold of empy eggshells instead of throwing them in the bin, as they can have some major benefits in your garden – including as a fertiliser for your plants
Eggshells can be vital for your garden’s health (stock photo)(Image: Carol Yepes via Getty Images)
If you’ve got a garden brimming with flowers, you should think twice before you chuck your eggshells in the bin. When rustling up some eggs for breakfast, it’s almost instinctive to toss the empty shells away after cracking the good bits into your pan.
But green-fingered people aiming to boost their plant health might want to hang onto those shells, as they could work wonders in the garden. Eggshells can be a boon to your garden in several ways, with one of the top tricks being to use them in homemade fertiliser, offering essential nutrients like calcium to your greenery.
A TikTok video by a gardening enthusiast recommends grinding eggshells with a pestle and mortar until they’re a “very fine powder” and then turning that into a calcium-rich fertiliser.
The gardener explained that all you need to do is combine the eggshells with lemon juice, which will make them fizz and “start forming bubbles.”
They elaborated: “This happens because eggshells are alkaline, and lemon juice is acidic. It’s this acid that releases the calcium trapped inside the eggshells.”
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The pro then mentioned that letting the mix sit for 24 hours will dissolve most of the eggshell in the lemon juice, creating a liquid brimming with calcium.
With this potent liquid in hand, you can dilute it with a litre of water and spritz it on your plants as a “liquid fertiliser”.
The gardener shared their wisdom: “You’ll have a liquid fertiliser that’s rich in calcium – perfect for applying at the base of plants and also on their foliage. This homemade method allows plants to absorb calcium faster, strengthening roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. Plus, it boosts plants’ resistance against diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and harsh weather conditions.
“With this method, you recycle kitchen waste, save money, reduce trash, and increase your garden’s productivity naturally, ecologically, and effectively. The best part is that it’s simple, affordable, and anyone can do it at home.”
As per Gardener’s World, eggshells are brimming with plant-loving nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese.
In addition to employing eggshells as fertiliser, they can be incorporated into your compost heap should you have one. While previously crushed eggshells have been recommended for surrounding your greenery to repel slugs and snails, recent research suggests they’re not particularly effective as a deterrent.
How to make eggshell fertiliser
Powdered eggshell fertiliser
Wash and dry eggshellsCrush eggshells into a fine powderBake the eggshells to help sterilise them (optional)Sprinkle the powder at the base of your plants or mix into soil
Liquid eggshell fertiliser
Wash, dry, and crush eggshells into small piecesBoil the eggshells in waterLet it sit for about a week, stirring occasionallyStrain the liquid and use it to water your plants