While most gardeners toss away precious resources, the truth is, the kitchen is a goldmine for nutrient-dense scraps. Most kitchens produce more plant nutrients than the average garden center. These ten common kitchen scraps are better than costly fertilizers (that often burn your plants) because they provide nutrients in the slow, natural, and evolutionary way that your plants have adapted to.
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Check PriceCoffee Grounds: The pH Game Changer
Fresh coffee grounds are not acidic as most people think. Their pH is about 6.5-6.8 which makes them neutral. During brewing, many of the acids leach out and what remains are the coffee grounds that are rich in nitrogen. These grounds are great for heavy feeders such as roses, azaleas, and blueberries. To use them, mix your used grounds into your compost or spread thin layers directly around your plants. Note that thick layers may create a water resistant mat that will stunt plant growth.
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Crushed Eggshells: A Great Source of Calcium
Since eggshells are made of 95% calcium carbonate, they break down very slowly which will allow them to provide calcium to the soil over several months. Wash the eggshells, crush them into very small pieces and then mix them into the soil around your plants. The calcium in the eggshells will help to prevent blossom end rot by strengthening the cell walls of the plants. One dozen eggs will provide enough calcium for three large tomato plants for the entire growing season.
Banana Peels: Get Your Potassium Without the Burn
Banana peels are high in potassium and are especially good for flowering plants because they deliver nutrients slowly over time rather than all at once. Chopped peels can be buried around 4 inches around in roses, fruit trees, and flowering perennials. The slow decomposition of the peel will feed the beneficial microbes in the soil and will also prevent potassium burn. When using fresh peels, they will work better than dried ones for sustained release of potassium.
Nitrogen Plus Trace Minerals: Loose Tea vs Tea Bags
Used tea leaves enhance soil structure and supply nitrogen and trace minerals. Because green tea has more nitrogen than black tea, it is better for heavy feeders like corn and leafy greens. To use, take out the staples from the tea bags and bury them directly into the root zone. The tea leaves will draw earthworms and will provide nutrients for 6-8 weeks.
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Diluted Milk: Calcium, Protein, and Disease Prevention
To make a nutrient milk solution, mix 1 part milk and 10 parts water. The milk solution contains calcium, amino acids and natural antibiotics. The solution can be used to prevent powdery mildew on squash, cucumbers, and peas and gives calcium to the plants. The solution should be sprayed on the leaves or can be applied to the soil once a month. Whole milk is better than skim milk because its fat content helps the nutrients stick to the leaves better.
Wood Ash as a Potassium Balancer for Some Plants
Because wood ash offers potassium and other minerals while raising soil pH, it can be great for plants that like neutral and slightly alkaline soil. It can be used around broccoli, carrots, and lavender, but should be limited to about 5 to 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet per year. Always test for pH before the ash is added, as it can cause alkaline soils to go too high and create nutrient blockages. Ash from treated wood or charcoal should never be used.
Rice Water: Plants Get Stronger With Silica
Silica, potassium, and some other trace minerals are found in the starchy water used to cook rice, along with other things. The rice water is great for strengthening and reinforcing the walls cell walls and disease resistance of plants. To use the rice water, cool it first, then apply it to the soil at the base of the plants. For weaker stems and lower disease resistance, apply the rice water weekly to roses, tomatoes, and peppers. The rice water will help plants become more resilient to pests and diseases.
Vegetable Cooking Water: Rich in Plant Nutrients
Vegetable cooking water cools off after leaching some nutrients that plants can absorb. Use it on houseplants or garden veggies within 24 hours. Potato water is really rich in potassium and water from steamed broccoli has calcium and other minerals. Use salt-free cooking water as sodium will damage plant roots.
Aquariumwasser: Stickstoffreicher Dünger
Aquarium water is a good organic nitrogen source since it comes from fish waste (not fresh manure which can burn plants with the ammonia). Use the water from an aquarium to water outdoor plants and house plants. The aquarium water is already balanced in pH and nutrients that will not harm the plants while providing food. The nutrients in the water are available to the roots of the plants immediately. If possible, use water from freshwater tanks as saltwater tanks water should be avoided.
Apple Peels and Cores: Slow-Release Potassium
Apple scraps break down faster than banana peels and also provide potassium and some trace minerals. Finely chop apple waste and incorporate it into the soil around your flowering shrubs and perennials. The natural sugars in the apple scraps will feed the beneficial bacteria in the soil and help with the gradual release of nutrients from the apple scraps over time. Avoid applying large pieces of apple scraps to the soil, as these can attract pests. Smaller pieces integrate with the soil much better and will decompose within 4 to 6 weeks.
When using kitchen scrap fertilizers it is important to know that often, less is more. These organic materials work slowly and steadily feeding and building the health of the soil. Using small amounts is a good start and watching your plants will allow the proper adjustments to be made. Unlike commercial fertilizers, your garden will develop a resilient soil ecosystem.
