What plants can be fed with eggshells. Egg shells as fertilizer for the garden. How to make shell fertilizer

For the successful cultivation of domestic crops, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for them. They need proper planting, loose soil, regular watering and top dressing. Among organic fertilizers, eggshells are especially popular. There are several ways to apply it. To properly feed indoor plants, you need to familiarize yourself with the strengths and weaknesses of this natural fertilizer.

Features of the chemical composition and benefits for plants

Eggshells have been actively used for watering indoor flowers for many years. Of particular value to them is the shell, which is 95% calcium carbonate. It is this connection that contributes to:

• stimulation of all growth processes;
• improvement of photosynthesis;
• normalization of metabolism;
• increase the degree of germination of seed.

In addition to carbonate, eggshell contains chemical elements such as phosphorus, magnesium and others.

In the eggshell, there are 27 components from the periodic table, which explains its widespread use in horticulture and floriculture.

It is extremely rare to find calcium in its pure form in natural conditions. But bicarbonates and the salts formed from them are found in high concentration in limestone and chalk. Thanks to calcium carbonate, which is in the shell of eggs, the shell is quite strong and hard. Of the organic substances, mucin and keratin are especially valued.

Among the positive aspects of using eggshells for plants are:

• The ability to deoxidize the soil. Normal indicators of the acidity level of the soil cover are in the range of 5.5-7. It is in such an environment that the root system of plants can fully absorb nutrients from the soil, which is so necessary for the successful flow of all growth processes and photosynthesis.
• Enrichment of soil with minerals.
• Creation of loose soil structure. Thanks to the use of eggshells near the soil, moisture and air permeability increases.
• Providing reliable protection. Protects against dangerous diseases such as blackleg and blossom end rot. Egg shells for tomato bushes are especially relevant.

It is useful to apply this organic fertilizer to the soil when digging it, to powder the root zone of young plants with it after preliminary grinding, and also to use it as the main component in the preparation of infusions and decoctions.

With the regular use of egg shells, the characteristics of the soil substrate improve, it becomes most suitable for growing ornamental crops.

For these purposes, quail eggs are also excellent, containing 90% of calcium valuable for indoor plants.

organic nutrition

Eggshell shows its high performance as a nutrient composition when growing young plants. It is used by crushing and placing on the bottom of the container, any other container where seedlings are planned to be grown. With the regular addition of a natural product to the soil, it is possible to significantly increase the degree of its fertility. This is due to a decrease in acidity.

To neutralize high acidity in the soil per 1 sq. m. it is necessary to use 0.5-1 kg of calcium carbonate. When calculating the required amount of organic raw materials, it should be taken into account that the weight of the shell from one egg is about 10 g.

Organics in the form of a hard shell from eggs can improve the quality of the compost. Due to the high concentration of calcium carbonate in it, crushed shells increase the degree of germination of seeds of horticultural crops.

When using this product, there is a rapid consumption of proteins contained in the seed, which contributes to the early emergence of sprouts and their strengthening. If you adhere to this technology, then young plants will be fully prepared for planting and will be able to quickly adapt to new conditions.

Pest control

Eggshell containing compounds of calcium, molybdenum, magnesium, iron, silicon, fluorine and chromium, when combined with vegetable oil, can alkalize the soil.

In order for the soil to be quickly enriched with useful elements that are in the egg shell, you need to grind the fertilizer as best as possible.

Large fragments are assimilated by the soil for a long time - for two to three years, and flour from them - in the year of addition.

Contraindications to the use of eggshell

In order to avoid the onset of further negative consequences for plants, it is necessary to decide which of them the egg shell is not suitable for. If you overdo it with the use of this organic fertilizer, you can provoke the development of dangerous ailments in crops such as:

• gloxinia;
• violet;
• hydrangea;
• azalea;
• gardenia;
• camellia;
• pelargonium.

The explanation for this is simple - the neutralization of the acidic environment in which these home flowers prefer to grow.

Despite the many useful qualities of organic fertilizers, in particular, eggshells, they should be applied in doses and only for those plants that prefer neutral soil.

How to prepare fertilizer

Fertilizer from shells for indoor plants can be used in several forms - powdered, liquid and compost. Feeding procedures are especially effective at the stage of flowering and fruiting.

Powder

First of all, top dressing must be properly prepared in order to achieve the maximum result from it. When the eggs are already used, the shells are left to dry on the windowsill. So that the raw material does not deteriorate, does not rot, it is not worth putting it in plastic bags. It is better to use bags made of paper or fabric for these purposes.

The dried shell is placed on a dense cloth, covered and crushed well with a rolling pin. Then they are transferred to a coffee grinder and brought to a powder state. Organic top dressing is stored in a clean glass container, closed with a tight lid, in the refrigerator. It is necessary to fertilize with powder from the egg shell of a plant by adding it to the soil when digging.

In the soil, natural top dressing in the form of a powder is quickly absorbed by ornamental crops. It is effective to use large fragments of the hard shell only as a drainage when planting indoor flowers.

Infusion

You can prepare liquid fertilizer according to the following recipe:

1. Pour crushed shells from 5 eggs into a glass container.
2. Pour 3 liters of boiling water.
3. Close the lid and put in a cool place.
4. The preparation time of the infusion is 14 days, then it is used diluted (1:3).

To enhance the effect, eggshells are used together with wood ash, scattering the mixture over the surface of the soil and periodically spilling water. You need to repeat the procedure 2 times a week for a month. The ratio of components is 1:2.

Another way to neutralize acidity and feed the plants is to use a mixture of eggshells, limestone and chalk crumbs. The ingredients are taken in equal proportions and diluted with water to a liquid consistency.

Eggshell is a fairly strong tool that can enrich the soil with useful components and protect plants from pests. The main thing is to properly prepare raw materials and use them in moderation to prevent excess calcium carbonate in the ground. Before applying fertilizer, you need to familiarize yourself with which crops it is contraindicated.

Not all gardeners are aware that a simple eggshell can act as a beauty. But it is not enough to assemble this important component. It is important to properly prepare the eggshell so that it benefits. The shell contains calcium carbonate, magnesium, which have a beneficial effect on various crops. It remains only to delve into the nuances.

The beneficial properties of the ingredient should not be underestimated.

The most useful component in the composition is calcium carbonate. The shell consists of exactly 92% of it. Calcium carbonate, together with moisture, enters the soil, passes through the roots and is quickly absorbed by the plant. It is important to note that there is much more calcium carbonate in the composition of the eggshell than in lime and chalk. Therefore, it is advisable to talk about the benefits of such a fertilizer.

But do not forget that the shell contains other useful components that will bring significant benefits for the growth and development of plants:

• potassium salts make up about 93%;
• magnesium 1.5%;
• various phosphates 1.8%;
• organic matter 3%.

Together, this amount of nutrients is sufficient for the active growth and development of plants.

How do all these beneficial ingredients get into the soil and plants? In fact, everything is simple. The ground powder gives the soil useful substances at the moment when it is in a humid environment. If you do not forget to water the plants, then small particles will begin to be absorbed by the root system, thereby nourishing the culture.

It is worth noting that top dressing with ordinary powder has a cumulative effect. Some particles become thinner to such a state that they can easily be absorbed by the root system only after a few weeks. Therefore, the plant will constantly receive the proper amount of nutrients. It is important here that the gardener does not overdo it with fertilizer.

Shell collection

The shell is kneaded in a special mortar

In order to prepare a useful fertilizer, you will need a shell from absolutely any eggs, from homemade to store-bought ones. They, too, have not lost their usefulness.

It is enough to save the shell from the eggs every time you consume them for food. In a month, a family of three can accumulate up to 100 shells, which, in terms of fertilizer, will be quite a large amount.

Instructions for preparing the shell for processing:

You can collect the shell not only from raw eggs, but also from boiled ones, it will not lose its useful properties.

How many shells will be needed in order to fertilize the beds within two weeks with an interval of 3-4 days? If we are talking about a small greenhouse or several longitudinal beds, then you will need from 100 to 200 egg shells.

Pros and cons of eggshell fertilizer

When applying fertilizer on your backyard, it is important to familiarize yourself with the possible positive and negative scenarios after application.

Advantages

1. The shell contains a huge amount of useful trace elements and can compete with purchased products.
2. Top dressing is used for most crops that grow in central Russia.
3. Fertilizer will improve yields, accelerate growth, enrich with minerals.
4. It is a pest repeller.
5. Absolutely safe for humans.
6. Does not require large financial costs.

Flaws

1. Some plants do not accept this type of feeding, they may react outside the box.
2. Indoor flowers, as well as some decorative flowers in flower beds, are very sensitive. An overdose of substances contained in the shell can be the basis for the death of plants.

Properties

What effect can a gardener expect by applying such top dressing?

As we found out earlier, the shell contains about 92% calcium carbonate.

• It is easily absorbed by plants.
• It activates the vital activity of organisms, which allow initiating the processes of decomposition of organic matter.
• The structure and quality of the soil improves.
• Nutrients dissolve faster.
• When feeding seedlings, the adaptation period passes faster.
• Plants are strengthened, become hardy.
• The growth of the root system is accelerated.
• Improves air exchange.

A similar effect is provided not only by calcium in the composition, but also by potassium, manganese, iron, phosphorus and magnesium. Together, these elements contained in the shell can bring any garden to life.

Fertilizer preparation

Egg shell after crushing 1- rolling pin 2- coffee grinder

To prepare fertilizer, you will need the shell already in crushed form.

In order to obtain a uniform powder, the following method should be preferred.

1. Lay a clean, soft cloth on a horizontal surface. You can also use a regular tablecloth.
2. Spread the shell over it, crushing it with your hands.
3. Then, arm yourself with a thick wooden rolling pin and walk along the shell in different directions.
4. When you are sure that there are no large pieces left, connect a coffee grinder or pass the shell through a meat grinder. You can not skip this stage, since large pieces of the shell decompose more slowly, which means they will not bring the proper benefit.
5. The resulting flour can already be put into ready-made containers.

The next step is to start preparing the fertilizer.

Egg shells are mixed with sand in a ratio of one to one. Additionally, other ingredients can be mixed into such a fertilizer, depending on the purpose of use.

Mix eggshells with water

For better absorption, you can prepare a liquid fertilizer using a powder.

1. To do this, the crushed shell must be put in a glass bottle.
2. From above, the mixture is poured with water in a ratio of one to three.
3. The container should be placed in a cool dark place for 2 weeks.
4. After 14 days, you can see that the water has become dark and cloudy. Also, the bottle has a bad smell.
5. Fertilizer is ready. The resulting composition must be diluted with water in a ratio of one to three and you can water the beds.

Application of fertilizer

Do you use egg shells as fertilizer?

I applyNot

• To improve seed adaptation during germination. If you want to hasten the sprouts, then immediately after the seeds have been planted in the ground, they can be sprinkled with powder. Similar procedures can be done both in open ground conditions and for plants in pots. Such top dressing guarantees the cultivation of strong seedlings.
• As a manufacturer of drainage system. The shell can act as a drainage, at the same time, nourishing the root system of flowering plants.
• For root feeding. The powdered shell is poured with boiling water, after which it settles for several days. The resulting mixture is still diluted with water and applied to root crops. Thanks to this top dressing, the plants acquire greater strength and impressive size.
• Improvement of the soil structure. The addition of eggshells helps reduce the acidity. The plant is fed.
• Pest protection. The shell is an excellent tool that protects your plantings from insects, moles. Eggshell fertilizer allows you to deal with and.

Folk recipes

On the Internet, you can find a huge number of folk recipes that use ground eggshells.

Egg shell and ash

This mixture gives a truly incredible result. Plants begin to add in growth, become strong. Feeding is easy to make. To do this, egg powder is mixed with ash in a ratio of one to two.

The mixture is spread over the beds in a thin layer. After that, water well. This procedure should be performed a couple of times a week for a month. For example, if seedlings were planted in May, then such events should be continued until mid-June.

You will see how the seedlings will differ significantly from those that have not been processed properly.

with limestone

Egg shells are mixed with limestone and chalk crumbs. Such a recipe is used if it is necessary to reduce the acidity of the soil, but at the same time, sign the plants. Eggshells are mixed into the bored limestone in a one-to-one ratio. The mixture is diluted with water to a liquid state.

Plants are watered twice with an interval of several days.

Eggshell and humus

Instead of humus, chicken manure can act as additional ingredients. For better digestibility of the mixture, it is better to dilute it with water. The beds are watered 2 times a week for a month.

With garden pitch

If pests attacked the garden, you can easily get rid of them using the following recipe.

• Egg shells are mixed with pre-diluted garden pitch. The consistency should be liquid.
• Leaves, stems and other affected areas should be sprayed with the resulting solution.

Garden var will attract pests, but soon, they will begin to die due to the presence of eggshells in the composition.

eggshell

A good way to get rid of pests, such as slugs. To do this, you do not need to grind the shell into powder. It is enough just to roll it well with a rolling pin. The resulting sharp pieces of shell should be scattered next to plants that are attacked by slugs. This will become a kind of obstacle on the way to delicacy and soon the slug will stop attacking the plants.

However, be careful, because scattered shells can attract birds, which will also put your crop in question.

Agronomists often use eggshell powder even when processing large areas. This is done in situations where plants are in dire need of potassium and calcium. However, agronomists warn that if you use eggshell unnecessarily, and even in large quantities, then you risk overfeeding the plants, thereby ruining the crop in the bud.

It is necessary to apply fertilizer only in cases where the appearance and behavior of plants indicates this:

• observed growth retardation;
• plants are attacked by pests;
• studies were carried out and high acidity of the soil was revealed;
• the crop is grown in conditions unusual for it and assistance is needed during planting in open ground.

Only in these cases is eggshell feeding applicable.

If you are feeding absolutely healthy plants, then be careful not to overdo it. It is important to keep a fine line.

Cautions

Very often, the cause of the death of certain plant varieties is the banal ignorance of gardeners. For example, there are varieties and individual crops that prefer acidic soil. It is suitable for many flowers and house plants. Other crops do not grow well in alkaline soil. That is why they need to be well watered, loosened.

However, if you start to reduce the acidity of the soil, then the plants may not react in the best way. They become lethargic, they will get sick, and if you do not notice the reaction for a long time, death is also possible. This applies to some varieties of cucumbers, pumpkins and many ornamental flowers.

Do not scatter large pieces of shell among plants.

1. Firstly, you can injure cultures, which is fraught with various infections and so on.
2. Secondly, such a shell is converted into fertilizer for a very long time, and for sure, the plants will not benefit from it. Therefore, it is better to grind eggshells into powder.

The shell must not be left uncovered. Many try to scatter the powder in the beds before digging. It is important not to leave the shell on the surface, but to dig it into the soil. Otherwise, you may attract birds, resulting in the loss of the entire crop.

How to properly distribute the powder?

Do not forget to cover the shell with earth

seeds

1. When planting seeds in open ground, it is necessary to dig holes or a trench.
2. They are well watered.
3. After that, the seeds are immersed.
4. Powder from the shell is poured on top.
5. The earth is filled up, watered.

For seedlings in pots, you can also use eggshells

Seedling

1. Digging holes.
2. Powder is poured into the bottom.
3. Planting plants.
4. Accepted by the earth.
5. Watered with water.

top dressing

Scatter the eggshells along the beds

1. The powder is scattered along the beds on the ground.
2. Then, the soil is well loosened and dug up so that the ingredients are in the ground.
3. From above it is abundantly watered with water so that the plant absorbs useful substances.

To avoid the procedure of digging, it is necessary to dilute the egg powder with water and even before watering. Together with water, nutrients will be in the root system of the plant earlier than in any other way.

In custody

Eggshell is a simple and affordable ingredient that any gardener can use. The preparation of fertilizer also does not cause any controversial issues. And yet, before applying this fertilizer, you should make sure that it is your crops that need such top dressing. Be guided by the principle of "do no harm", and then you will get a really good harvest.

In most cases, when we talk about eggshells, we are talking about chicken eggs. The egg is surrounded by two shells at once, a hard outer shell and a soft shell shell (which in turn also consists of two layers, but this is not important now).

The shell is a bumpy, granular texture with more than 17,000 pores, it is 95% calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

How useful is the shell?

Although nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the most important elements for healthy plant growth, calcium is also essential for the formation of healthy "bones" - the plant's cell walls. In addition, up to about 5% of the weight of the eggshell, this is the soft part of the eggshell, which contains nitrogen-rich organic matter, this film is very beneficial to plants after it is decomposed.

Thus, fertilizing the soil with eggshells can be useful if the soil is deficient in calcium. In addition, even if you do not take into account calcium and other useful elements, the shell helps keep the soil loose, which is especially true for some types of houseplants.

Signs of calcium deficiency

Young shoots of plants bend, twist, leaves from the tip and edges may begin to turn yellow. The plant looks lethargic.

First of all, the lack of calcium is noticeable on tomatoes, cauliflower, apple trees, they can be called indicator plants. Most often, calcium deficiency occurs in light and acidic, peaty and saline soils.

Even if there is enough calcium in the soil, many factors affect its absorption by plants: dry and warm weather, fluctuations in soil moisture, an abundance of potash and magnesium fertilizers.

How to make eggshell fertilizer?

So, we learned about the benefits of eggshell for plants (and not only, but more on that in the next article).

1. We collect the shell

We no longer throw away the shell, but gently rinse it with warm water (try to keep the inner film), dry it and put it in a box.

2. Grinding the shell

Eggshell decomposes very poorly in the soil, only the inner soft film, which we mentioned above, quickly decomposes. The shell can be stored in the soil for up to three years or more, of course, it all depends on the soil and other factors.

Therefore, it is wrong to fertilize the beds like this! 🙂

You need to crush the shell into powder!

For this, a pestle, rolling pin, coffee grinder or blender is suitable.

3. Methods of fertilization

• Adding to wells before planting.
• Sprinkling the soil from above (or watering with a solution)

• Soil mixing

For which plants should I use eggshell fertilizer?

It can be said for anyone. Everything depends on the soil. First of all, such a fertilizer can be useful for: tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, cabbage, beets, onions and many others, including indoor plants and even flowers, such as roses.

Other uses

Eggs are delicious, healthy and nutritious food. Most people just throw away the shell, but meanwhile it is a valuable renewable resource that has many uses.

Planting seedlings

1. Break the egg in the area of ​​the upper third and remove it.

You can just crack an egg in half, but you end up with too small seed containers.
*It is better not to use colored eggs (Easter) as they contain dyes that can harm delicate seedlings.

1. Rinse with warm water and dry the shell.
2. Try making a small drainage hole at the bottom of the shell.

This step is optional, but it will help prevent overwatering, which can kill the young plant.

1. Fill the shell with moistened soil.

To do this without problems, roll a sheet of paper into a cone and pour the earth with this funnel, or you can use a teaspoon.

1. Pour 2-3 seeds on top and cover them with a small layer of soil.

The shell as a container for seedlings is most suitable for small plants. If large vegetables such as beans, cucumbers, eggplants, pumpkins are planted in this way, they will require transplanting as early as 1 week after germination. Great for growing in shell: dill, parsley, basil, marigolds, etc.

1. Place the seedlings on a windowsill or other warm and sunny location.

For this, you will need a regular egg carton.

1. Water the seeds and wait for them to germinate.

Depending on what kind of seeds you have planted, you can see the first shoots in a week. It is best to water with a spray gun (sprayer), young plants need care. You may need to remove extra plants after a while if more than one seedling will sprout in the shell to give maximum space to the strongest plant.

1. Transplant the seedlings into the ground as soon as they are ready.

Attention! Before planting, the shell must be carefully crushed in the hand or completely removed. The fact is that the shell is too small for the development of the root system of an adult plant. As we showed above, it takes too long to decompose in the soil, so it will prevent further root growth outside the shell.

Bird feeding

When you cook eggs for breakfast, keep the shells - they are a great addition to bird food. Many species of birds use crushed shells as an excellent source of calcium, especially for females in the spring, when they are just about to lay their eggs. In addition, it will help the birds that feed on seeds and insects in the digestion of food.

1. Wash the shell and place on a baking sheet.
2. Bake in the oven to sterilize, 7-10 minutes at a temperature of 180-200 degrees. Some do it in the microwave.
3. Crush the shells and spread on a flat open surface.

This treat can be enjoyed by swallows, sparrows, finches and many other birds.

If you lure the right birds to your garden in this way, they can be an excellent pest control and create a harmonious environment on the site.

Pest control

Many believe that the shell helps to get rid of snails and slugs, or at least save many plants from them. Assuming that the sharp edges irritate them and they tend to bypass the shell.

Unfortunately, many amateur experiments in the garden this myth not confirmed.

In the video below, you can see that even a knife or a sharp straight razor is not much of a barrier to a slug.

Mulch

You have probably heard a lot about the benefits of mulching. Eggshells can be used as mulch and will add a pop of color to your yard.
It should be noted that for these purposes you will need a lot of shells, it is necessary to cover the soil with a fairly thick layer to prevent the germination of weeds.

Drainage

Some gardeners use the shells as drainage in houseplant pots. This is hardly a good replacement for expanded clay, but why not!

How do you use the shell?

Organic fertilizers are necessary for all green organisms: both garden and garden. Such dressings are natural, safe, include many nutrients and are able to accumulate and linger in the fertile land layer. Thanks to the introduction of organic matter, vegetables and fruits grow actively, and the fruits acquire good taste. This article will help you find out what is fertilized with eggshells and which plants it is not suitable for.

Egg shells are a popular organic fertilizer that is easy to make and use at home to feed seedlings. It contains a huge percentage of easy-to-absorb calcium (93%). The composition of the shell also includes a small amount of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, sulfur and aluminum.

The advantage of this top dressing is that:

• it is impossible to allow an overdose;
• means economical and affordable;
• fertilizer is easy to make and apply in the country or at home.

To make top dressing, it is better to take the eggs of domestic chickens: they contain more useful components. The brown shell is more useful than the white one. It should also not be subjected to heat treatment: after the procedure, some of the useful elements are boiled out.

For fertilizer 1 sq. m. area requires 45-50 crushed shells.

Why is the shell useful for plants?

Eggshell as a fertilizer for the garden has a positive effect on many crops. Thanks to its application:

1. the acidity of the soil decreases;
2. there is an active saturation with minerals;
3. the substrate is loosened: in this state, oxygen supply is easier and better, moisture is absorbed;
4. the susceptibility of greens to infections and attacks of harmful organisms is reduced;
5. seeds germinate faster, the root system of young plants develops intensively.

Egg peeling is useful:

• embed into the ground when digging;
• grind into powder and powder the root zone of seedlings with it;
• take as a basis for the preparation of nutritious infusions and decoctions.

The use of eggshells for the garden is that fertilizer prevents the emergence and spread of weeds.

Tiny shell seedling cups

Eggshells are recommended for use in the garden when picking young plants. Small cups can be made from the halves of the cleanings, where young sprouts are then moved. After the seedlings grow up, they are rooted in a greenhouse or on the beds right in homemade pots.

For which crops is the fertilizer suitable?

Eggshell for vegetable garden has versatility, suitable for many vegetables (potatoes, eggplants, radishes, radishes), tree plants, bushes, ornamental plantings of open areas, potted flowers growing at home.

Garden and garden

Egg shells are a great gardening tool. It has a positive effect on such vegetable crops as tomatoes, peppers, beets, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, onions. It can be added to the hole for each seedling of tomato or pepper when transplanting in the spring: one teaspoon of the crushed substance is placed in the holes when transplanting to a new place. This will help plants form immunity to infectious lesions, accelerate their rooting.

The material also has a beneficial effect on fruit plants (apple, cherry, apricot, sweet cherry, quince, pear, melon), ornamental flowering crops.

Improved seed germination

In order for the seeds to germinate faster, it is necessary to finely crush the eggshell and feed it to the beds or containers where the seedlings are sown.

Root top dressing for garden crops

In order to prepare an effective eggshell fertilizer for the garden, you need a shell of 4-5 eggs. It must be crushed, brewed with boiling water. The container with the resulting liquid is closed, kept for a week. After aging, the composition is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3 and the plantings are irrigated with it.

Drainage for seedlings and flowers

First, egg shells are laid in pots for indoor plants with a layer of 2-3 cm, then they are covered with a soil mixture. This allows you to activate the flow of oxygen into the soil, eliminates excess fluid, and prevents rotting of the root system.

The decomposition period of organic waste is several years.

For indoor and garden flowers

Eggshells for indoor flowers are used as a liquid top dressing. They make a nutrient composition from peeling 4-5 eggs, which are poured with three liters of warm water, kept in a shady place for a couple of days, then flowers are fed to them.

Soil structure improver

Egg peel, getting into the ground, makes it soft and loose, makes it possible to absorb more moisture and let air through to the roots. Decaying, cleanings saturate the soil with useful macro- and microelements.

What plants can be harmed?

You can not fertilize under those indoor flowers that prefer an acidic environment (gloxinia, violet, azalea, hydrangea, pelargonium, camellia). Do not add such top dressing for cucumbers, garden strawberry seedlings. They do not like her strawberries, spinach, cabbage, beans, peas, zucchini.

Feed preparation

The shell of chicken eggs is used in the form of a grated mass or tincture. Fertilizer is applied by embedding into the soil during digging, by dusting the root zone of plants on top, by means of root watering of greenery.

shell preparation

In order for the use of eggshells for a garden or garden to be useful, you need to know how to properly prepare raw materials. To this end, the shell should:

1. wash well to exclude waste from rotten eggs;
2. bake in the oven;
3. grind with a meat grinder, coffee grinder or hammer.

Manufacture of liquid fertilizer

A nutritious infusion is prepared as follows: 5 shells are ground and brewed with three liters of boiling water. Let the composition brew for a week, then dilute with water in a ratio of 1: 3.

Storage rules

Crushed organic raw materials are best stored in ajar glass or paper containers. Before preparing eggshell fertilizer, it must be carefully processed, the protein remaining on the walls removed so as not to provoke putrefactive changes and fetid fumes.

The material does not lose its positive properties within one year.

Protective agent against pests and diseases

The use of eggshells in the garden prevents the appearance of dangerous animals and insects near plantings. For this purpose, cleaning is lubricated with vegetable oil, added dropwise among the beds.

Fight against slugs and snails

To defeat harmful insects, it is advised to sprinkle the area with crushed egg husks.

The use of eggshells as a fertilizer saturates the soil with a large amount of nutrients, improves its structure, and contributes to a rich harvest. Thanks to the use of natural top dressing, oversaturation of the soil with harmful agrochemicals can be avoided.

Eggs are one of the must-have products on our table. And what do you do with the eggshell, which accumulates a lot? You probably throw it away with the trash. This is not the best solution. It turns out that eggshells have a great use as fertilizer for your backyard.

How is eggshell useful for plants?

The egg shell is 93% calcium carbonate, which is easily digestible for plants due to its synthesis in the bird's body. The fats, organic substances, magnesium carbonate, proteins and carbohydrates that are part of the shell are an excellent top dressing and a source of nutrients.

The crystal structure of the shell also has a beneficial effect on digestibility. In this sense, the shell is much more convenient than lime or chalk, which are traditionally used to deoxidize the soil. As you know, the increased acidity of the earth negatively affects the fertility of plants. To cope with this shortcoming, finely crushed eggshells mixed with mineral fertilizers help.

Eggshell - a source of nutrients for the soil and plants

Table: useful substances contained in raw materials

It is recommended to use egg shells from poultry as fertilizer for the garden. The elements that make up its composition are of natural origin, since the diet of poultry includes natural products. Shop eggs are also suitable for use, but top dressing from them is much weaker, although the calcium content in the composition is higher.

Video about the benefits of eggshells

Features of the collection of raw materials

Start collecting material in winter. At this time, poultry begins to rush after a short break. Do not forget that the shell must be clean: the remains of the protein become rotten over time and begin to emit an unpleasant odor. Rinse the collected shell thoroughly and dry afterwards.

Start collecting shells at least from the beginning of winter

Studies have shown that brown shells are somewhat thicker and denser than white ones. This means that its mass is higher, which means that the content of useful substances in it is greater.

The more area you need to fertilize, the more eggshells you will need. Collecting the right amount is not difficult if you have a lot of laying hens at your disposal or have neighbors who collect shells only for discarding and can easily give them to you. Otherwise, the collection will take a lot of time. You can calculate the total weight of the shells collected during the year using the formula: 10 g * N * 12 months - 10%, where:

• 10 grams - the average weight of the shell of 1 egg;
• N - the number of eggs that your family eats during the month;
• 12 months - 12 months;
• 10% - worthless shell, which will have to be thrown away

Rules for grinding shells for fertilizer

To use the material, it must be crushed. The degree of grinding may vary depending on the application. You can process clean dried shells in a coffee grinder, mortar or meat grinder. Another way: put the shell on a hard surface, such as a table, in a thin layer, cover with a newspaper or cloth and tap it well with a hammer, then walk with a rolling pin, as if rolling out the dough. This way you will achieve a fairly fine grind.

To use the shell as a fertilizer, it must be crushed

Use in the garden

To get good shoots and a bountiful harvest, apply crushed material to the soil at the rate of 2 cups per 1 square meter of area. When digging the soil before winter, the shell can be introduced into the soil in small pieces.

Crushed shells are introduced into the soil when digging

You can also make an infusion of powdered shells to use as a liquid fertilizer. It will take 5-6 shells per 1 liter of water. Calculate how much shell you need, chop it and pour boiling water over it. Infuse for 5 days, stirring regularly. This infusion is very good for watering young shoots of any vegetable crops, especially potatoes. It is also great for feeding eggplant and cauliflower seedlings, which are often deficient in trace elements. Just remember that during the germination period, the amount of such fertilizer should be moderate. But for adult plants - vegetables, any garden flowers - such top dressing will be ideal.

Video about the use of eggshells in the garden

Benefits for seedlings

You can grow seedlings right in the eggshell

Eggshells have long been known as a seedling aid. It has a very beneficial effect on tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, flower crops at the seedling stage. Gardeners have been using shells since before there were special containers and peat tablets.

It was done like this: the top of the whole egg was removed, the contents poured out (a raw egg can be drunk or used to make scrambled eggs, scrambled eggs, pastries). Drainage holes were made with a gypsy needle, an awl or a thin nail. This turns out a container in which you can put the seeds of vegetables or flowers, 1-3 pieces each. The soil will be supplied with nutrients, and when it comes time to plant seedlings, it is enough to lightly squeeze the shell so that it cracks. Be careful not to damage the roots of tender seedlings.

If you are sowing seeds for seedlings in plastic cups, you can add a small amount of ground shells (3-5 grams per cup) to the substrate used.

Small pieces of eggshell will serve as excellent drainage in containers for seedlings. Simply spread the shells in a 1 cm layer along the bottom of the pot or container in which you plan to sow.

How to apply the product for indoor plants?

The flowers that you plant in pots at home need mineral fertilizers. As you know, they oxidize the soil, which already gave almost all the useful elements to the plant in a pot. Therefore, it is advisable to use ground shells together with mineral fertilizers. Add it at the rate of 1/3 teaspoon per flowerpot.

When transplanting houseplants, place crushed and calcined shells on the bottom of pots and containers in a layer of 2–3 cm. This will ensure good drainage and saturation of the substrate with useful substances.

Make liquid eggshell fertilizer for your houseplants. Take a jar of any capacity, fill it to the top with shells and pour boiling water over it. Insist for a week, covered with a lid. A sign of readiness will be turbidity of the liquid and its unpleasant odor. Before using the infusion for fertilizing indoor flowers, dilute it with water in proportions of 1: 3.

If an unpleasant smell bothers you, prepare this tincture in a slightly different way. Grind the shell into powder, pour 0.5 kg of the resulting substance into a jar and pour 3 liters of warm water. Infuse for a day, then use without diluting. The powder can be filled with water again to re-prepare the infusion.

Use eggshells as potted plants

After all, you can use eggshells as a decorative element. Plant small plants in the shell, for example, succulents or violets, they will look very original in such improvised "pots".

Video footage of eggshells as drainage