Even if you don’t have a compost pile, there are some no-compost kitchen scrap fertilizers you can use to improve your garden plants right now! I bet you have these things in your kitchen this minute!
Most gardeners know that the best soil you can get will really ramp up your garden. And what is the best soil you can get? Compost. Compost has tons of macro- and micro-nutrients which are vital to your plant’s survival. Absence of these elements, especially the macro-nutrients, and your plants will be susceptible to diseases and struggle to survive.
In addition, compost provides a good consistency for root penetration and water retention. And because it is newly digested plant material, all of those beneficial organisms are still likely hanging around in the soil, working their wonders.
If you are new to gardening or no-waste kitchen principles, composting seems like a big step to take at first. It isn’t very hard, but there are just a few things to know. And the compost takes several weeks or months to decompose properly. That doesn’t help you with your struggling plants today.
But did you know that there are some things you can do right now to improve your soil even if you don’t have your own compost pile? In fact, there are some no-compost kitchen scrap fertilizers and plant pairings which have a kind of symbiosis much the same way that companion planting works.
So if you don’t have the room, or you don’t want the extra step of composting, try these beneficial uses you can get out of uncomposted organic matter to put right in your garden.
Eggshells for Tomatoes
Why Eggshells?
Eggshells are very high in calcium, which is a trace mineral micronutrient often lacking in sufficient quantities in many soils. All plants need calcium, however some plants need it in higher quantities. Tomatoes are one of those plants that need additional calcium in order to produce healthy tomatoes. In fact, tomato plants which lack sufficient calcium will generate a disease called blossom end-rot. This is a particularly nasty disorder, because it affects tomatoes already growing on the vine.
Even full size tomatoes can succumb to blossom end-rot. The tell-tale sign of this disease is that one end of the fruit turns brown and mushy. Once affected, there is very little you can do to save that tomato. You can, however save other tomatoes on your plant.
Soils which are loose and /or sandy tend to be lower in calcium. Also, commercial soils lacking in composted material will have insufficient calcium, too. Clay soils tend to have high amounts of calcium, but alas, clay soil is too hard for tomato plant roots to penetrate in a single growing season to be healthy.
Therefore, adding eggshells to your soil is not only acceptable, but advisable! You will ward of blossom end rot and the whole tomato plant will be stronger and less susceptible to heat stress and insects. In addition to tomato plants, peppers, Brussels sprouts, lettuce and carrots all benefit from a higher amount of calcium than the average plant.
But the benefits don’t end there! Eggshells also work as a slug deterrent and to help aerate the soil. The sharp edges of the eggshells are a huge deterrent to both slugs and snails. And the chunky bits of eggshell help put little gaps into the soil so that it doesn’t compact too much. Plants need oxygen down at the root level to survive, and eggshells keep it porous.
How to use Eggshells in the Garden
The best way to avoid tomato blossom end-rot is to add the eggshells to the bottom of the tomato’s planting hole, I suggest grinding the eggshell in a coffee grinder or even a blender. The fine powder will be easily absorbed by the plant as its roots grow down to the amendments. You can also just crush the eggshells in your hand; the larger particles will not decompose as fast, but they are better aerators of the soil.
When applying eggshells to the top of the soil, you can just crush them into bits with your hand. The sharp edges will deter the slugs. Their soft bodies can’t withstand the sharp edges of the crushed eggshells. Make sure the layer of eggshell is wide – about an inch wide. And make a complete circle around each plant you want to protect. This ensures the slugs can’t cross over. Also, when watering the plant, the water will seep over the eggshells and help that calcium penetrate deep into the plant’s roots.
Banana Peels For Roses
Why Banana Peels?
Banana peels contain the macro-nutrients of potassium and phosphorus. Roses need an above average amount of both of these elements.
Phosphorus is one of the most important nutrients for flowering plants. It stimulates flower production on all flowering and fruiting plants. Phosphorus is so important, that the nickname for fertilizers with a high level of phosphorus is “Superbloom”.
Potassium is almost as important for roses as phosphorus is, but it is a lot harder to diagnose when there is a deficiency. Roses with a lack of potassium will look lackluster, the leaves will often yellow, and they will more be susceptible to common rose diseases and pests.
Normally anything with high levels of potassium could “burn” your plants, but because the levels in a banana peel is safe, you can add it directly to the soil.
How to use Banana Peels in the Garden
Simply side dress the rose plant by digging a shallow hole next to the rose bush. Put the peel into the hole and cover back over with soil. Make sure any grower’s sticker is removed from the peel. If you are worried about attracting animals like raccoons or rodents to your property, you could purée the peels and mix with water. Then just use the banana water to water your roses.
You can add banana peel to boost the soil potassium and phosphorus at any time during the season. A good time would be at the beginning of the season, when the buds are just coming out. Then you can reapply the peels in midsummer. This will help the roses resist aphids and common diseases.
NOTE: if you have a very large or old rose, adding one banana peel will not likely make a huge visible difference. The root structure on larger roses will be extensive. This remedy is mostly intended for young, first or second year roses.
Coffee Grounds for Acid Lovers like Azaleas
Why Coffee Grounds?
All soils have a level of pH in them – which is basically the acidity of the soil measured by the amount of hydrogen contained in the soil. And every plant has its preferred range of soil acidity. Most garden plants, including roses, like soil to be near neutral or slightly acidic.
However some plants prefer much more acidic soil. These plants include azaleas, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, blueberries, and camellias. Fresh coffee beans and fresh ground coffee have a lot of acid in them, so much so, that it could throw the pH out of whack. Once you brew the coffee, however, the acids are diluted making them safe to use directly on plants to gently increase the acidity of the soil. Also, brewed coffee grounds are more easily digested into the soil.
In addition, they are another great way to aerate the soil which in turn increases the water retention. And there have been studies suggesting that the caffeine repels many insects.
How to use Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Put the brewed coffee grounds below your acid-loving plant or bush right at the drip line. Right on top of the soil is fine. As dew and rain falls off the bush it will seep into the ground taking the beneficial organic matter with it. There is very little worry of attracting rodents, as they generally do not like the smell of coffee. You could also carefully massage the brewed grounds into the soil around the drip line of the plant.
Some people claim to put it on roses, too, however I would advise caution. While roses do like soil between neutral and slightly acidic, they don’t need the soil to be as acidic as the other plants mentioned in this article. If using on plants other than acid-lovers, you can make a “coffee tea”. Basically, just dilute the brewed coffee grounds even further with water prior to applying to soil.
Also, although there are many articles about using coffee grounds on tomato plants, generally they do not respond well to the acid in coffee grounds. Read about the nutritional needs for tomatoes here.
Orange Peels for Blueberries
Why Orange Peels?
Another great but perhaps less well-known of the no-compost kitchen scrap fertilizers is an orange peel. Orange peels contain high levels of the macro-nutrients calcium and potassium, and smaller amounts of magnesium and phosphorus. And they are also higher in acid, all of which are super important for blueberries.
In addition, orange peels also contain a compound known as d-limonene, which is the aromatic and citrusy smell we associate with orange zest. This compound is a powerful insect repellant, especially good for aphids, mosquitos and ants, because it disrupts their waxy coating.
How to use Orange Peels in the Garden
There are two ways to use orange peels – the easiest is to just chop them up into small pieces and work them into the top two inches of soil at the base of your blueberry plant, preferably at the drip line.
Some people prefer to dry them and make a powder to sprinkle right on top of the soil. However, with this method you lose some of the wonderful smell along with the aphid and pest repellant.
