Eggshells and nettles make great fertilizer

Eggshells are a great natural source of calcium and therefore indispensable for various crops especially, for organic farmers.

But did you know that you may improve the efficacy of eggshells by adding few handy ingredients commonly find in your garden?

Eggshell fertilizer

Making an eggshell fertilizer is not difficult. You only need eggshells and water. 100 g of eggshells and 3 litres of water. Put shells in a container and boil for 5 minutes. Strain the solution and add another 5 litres of water. Water with this mixture as usual.

Photo: Pixabay

Additional improvement

If you want to improve the efficacy you may add several other ingredients and make even better fertilizer. Add nettle leaves and onion peels to the mixture before boiling (50 grams of nettles and 50 grams of onion peel is enough).

Put everything together in a container, cover with a lid and let it sit for 24 hours. When done, strain it and dilute it with water in 1:10 ratio. If you do not have these ingredients, you may use walnut leaves instead. Water plants with this solution once a week.

Using eggshells in your garden

Eggshells alkalize soil and improve its structure. If you want to neutralize acidic soil, just scatter 500 g of shells per 1m² of soil. To collect this amount, you need 35-50 eggs, depending on their size. If you have muddy and peaty soil or clay, double the number of eggs to achieve the same effect. Eggshells also improve soil permeability so roots can get sufficient amount of oxygen. Permeable soil also absorbs water more evenly.

Source: https://www.ceskestavby.cz/clanky/jak-pohnojit-zahradu-zadarmo-23939.html, https://www.magazinzahrada.cz/sbirejte-vajecne-skorapky-v-zahrade-je-bohate-vyuzijete/

Preview photo: Pixabay