Benefits of using Raw eggs or Eggshells for your plant (A must read)

in #gardening7 years ago

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In my last two posts  , I did explain the benefits of eggshells to humans both adults and children  and also pets like cats and dogs and how to safely prepare the organic eggshells void of any bacteria and or semolina. It was discovered that Eggshells are powerhouses of calcium which is the primary mineral required for strong and healthy  bones and teeth, as it contains 27 other minerals which includes Magnesium, Silicon, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sodium, Iron, Sulphur, Aluminium, etc. More so, egg shells  contains the essential amino acids like lysine, methionine, cysteine and isoleucine,  which can help treat cavities efficiently as it has the perfect amount of the ideal substances for healing teeth cavities plus the egg shell components are similar to our teeth.  Read my previous posts on how eggshells benefits humans here and also how to use for your pets here...

In this posts, I will center on using eggshells to enrich soils for healthy crop. Good rich soil means everything for a gardener looking to raise healthy plants as there are so many chemicals and expensive solutions to achieve this which is not natural, however, there are simple remedies to boost your crops and ensure organically healthy crops. our grandparents did not have access to modern formulations for soil improvement as such relied on composting to boost soil fertility and achieved good yields.

Some of these methods which are still very relevant are;


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Banana skins : It is rich in potassium, phosphate, sulfur, calcium, magnesium and sodium which are all beneficial for healthy growth of your plant. You can cut in small pieces so they can easily decompose. 


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Ash- ash helps to raise the PH level of the soil. By scattering the ash around the soil, you are lowering the acidic level as such its easier to grow a fresh crop



Leaves : when you allow leaves to rot overtime in a garden it can provide nutrient to the soil to prepare it for next growing season. The leaves work by pulling down organic matter into the soil making it dark and rich 


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Epsom salt: Epsom salt are very good for soil.  When there is low PH in soil, it shows an imbalance of magnesium to boost ph level in the soil, dilute Epsom salt with water and spray on the plants. The plants will soak up the nutrients 



Compost regularly while using different natural options can be helpful, combining many pieces of compost will only go one step further enriching your soil.  Natural compost comes with a number of benefits of using natural compost regularly. This method works by improving the soil structure while using less water and eliminating those common plant diseases as such it benefits the soil with added layers of nutrients before a growing season.


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Raw eggs traditionally has been used by placing raw uncracked eggs in the bottom of the planting hole with its benefits and also its drawbacks as explained below. Using whole raw egg  rich in calcium as fertilizers is an important nutrient to plants especially vegetables and fruits. During composition, eggs release  the calcium into the soil for root uptake which can eliminate such problems like blossom end rot.


Benefits of Using Whole raw Eggs as Fertilizer: This is an important nutrient for plants, especially vegetables and fruits. Eggs will release the calcium into the soil for root. However, excess nitrogen and low pH will tie up calcium in soil, preventing uptake. Using eggs as a fertilizer imparts calcium but it  is not useful if the plant can’t access the nutrient. As such, at all times,  check your soil pH before planting a new garden and minimize the amount of nitrogen you introduce to soil as you notice the formation of buds.


Potential Downsides to using  Raw Egg as natural Fertilizer 

The smell is one obvious problems of using raw eggs as if you did not bury the egg deep enough into the soil, it begins to stink overtime. More so, when you use whole eggs as fertilizers, it can attract unwanted pests like rodents and raccoons due to the odor and while trying to get to their potential food source, will dig out your baby plants. 


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The quickest way for your plants to get much needed calcium is not through whole eggs as it can take a while to break down. The eggshells is a better source which are where the main nutrients are concentrated. Enjoy the egg and save the shells for a quicker, less smelly way to ensure your vegetables blossom and grow healthy.Eggshells have nitrogen, calcium, and phosphoric acid which make them an ideal choice for garden use. So next time you boil or fry an egg, do not throw away the egg shells, but instead recycle them to grow seedlings.


Plants that benefit from crushed eggshells


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After making your egg based meals do not throw the shells away, there are a lot of benefits as explained earlier for humans and your pets. Eggshells can also be crushed and use to help your garden grow. As eggshell breakdown, they act as natural fertilizer providing plants with valuable nutrients.


For those plants that are usually damaged by snails and slugs like tomatoes and marigolds, eggshells can act as a good line of defense. A layer of roughly crushed eggshells that encircles plants is a deadly barrier to these hungry pests since their bodies are soft and are damaged by the rough edges fo the eggshells. Therefore using eggshells to take care of slugs and snails that usually affect our crops is a better natural option than using chemical products.

Eggplants, tomatoes and peppers


Blossom end rot is a sever issue when growing peppers, eggplants and tomatoes as this problem can destroy the whole crops. Usually this is caused by lack of calcium resulting to dark, rotted sores on vegetables.


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 A layer of crushed eggshells placed in plants hole for these vegetables is a simple way for fighting these diseases as the eggshells decompose, they naturally enrich the soil and provides a slow but steady source of rich calcium as such preventing blossom end rot from occurring in the first place.

For potted plants


You can use crushed eggshells to close up holes in plant pots as well as providing the soil with rich nutrients as they decompose. This works for all kinds of potted plants like spider plants, ivy , ferns etc and this is as simple as placing a layer of crushed eggshells at the bottom of the plants container. Be aware that wash the eggshells clean of residue before using it and break into pieces large enough to cover the holes completely.


For Plants that is still growing

Eggshells contains a lot of calcium which is vital for Humans &  Animals as well as all forms of plant life which is an important regulator of growth and development of the plants. Calcium, which is found in eggshells, is vital to all forms of plant life and is according to the American Society of Plant Biologists "crucial regulator of growth and development," For an extra boost of  nutrient from eggshells, place a powder made from finely crushed eggshells into a watering can and fill it up. After letting it sit and absorb for several days, use the substance to water plants, such as vegetables and shrubs, which in turn will work perfectly like a natural fertilizer source.



Conclusion: In this article, I started by reminding us about the benefits of eggshells as a great calcium source to humans and pets as earlier outlined in my previous post ( Do read for more info about method of preparation and benefits for humans here and animals here), also, I outlined certain natural ways to enrich the soil as well as using egg shells which are usually discarded as waist to ensure we get a rich crop yield. As winter is fast approaching, this same method can be used for our flower pots to ensure they blossom very well. Finally, we need to always remember that nature has provided us with a lot of natural alternatives for healthier life, as such, it is good to discover how to use these natures resource effectively which in turn helps to eliminate littering the environment with reusable beneficial products we consider as waste.

Do you agree with these methods? Send in your comments with your own contributions and advises...

Do not forget to resteem this to benefit someone, support with your upvotes and follow @kenhudoy for more. Do also comment with your experiences if any in other methods of using eggshells.

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Calcium is important for many plants including peppers and tomatoes. We enjoy using the egg shells too, but had never heard of whole raw eggs. You also included a lot of other good choices like ashes and leaves.

Do you ever use fish? We like to bury them under our plants too.

Fish is also a great source like I mentioned about pests like racoons and rats...fish is even a better Target for them but a very good natural fertilizer.. tks for this addition... Check out also eggshell uses for humans and pets😉

Very informative post. Thank you

Welcome dear
Thanks and follow for more...

interesting post
I really like it in this field

wow nice info!! thx for share @kenhudoy!

Thanks for the comment... And follow for more... regards

Wow that is total picbait =DD

Very detailed and careful research, as always =) Just another reason why I should carry on loving eggs so much! =D

And another reason the only warrior of good foods must save all the organic eggshells in Germany for me...😏

Just found you on here ken, incredible write up! I am sustainable agriculture major and this one of my favorite posts ive found on here. enjoying some more from you!

Wow...loving your inspiring comments... Thanks and do also check the related posts..as eggshells do also benefit humans and animals...regards😎

I have learned something today. Thank you.

Welcome as always sir...I hope you also read the other uses of eggshells for humans and pets😎

wow... great explanation about making gardening process without poisoning artificial fertilizer and money.it is always good for earth and health.i have upvoted for the nice post.

Great comment...tks and do also check out the other post on uses of eggshells...follow for more...😎