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| In my quest to find inexpensive fertilizers for my tomato plants (and garden in general) I've heard some odds & ends that people do that sound strange - but are free everyday items. Is there anything to them? When I go to plant my tomato plants will it really help to add banana peels, egg shells, coffee grounds into the hole and surrounding soil? If so count me in! These days it helps to find economical ways of fertilizing our gardens - otherwise it'll be cheaper to buy them at the store! Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by texas-weed 7A (My Page) on Wed, Apr 13, 11 at 9:09
| Well I use banana peels (dried). bone meal, blood meal, green sand, Epsom Salt, and calcium pills (ground up). I use to use egg shells but found they do not break down fast enough, so I switched to calcium tablets. |
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| I put tea or coffee grounds on my garden pretty much every day, after I've finished my morning cup. No idea if it actually helps anything, but it can't hurt, and it saves me from having to throw it down the disposal or in the trash, so why not? I've also gotten bags of coffee grounds from Starbucks, they're usually pretty happy to give that stuff away. I don't know about the banana peels or egg shells, I would think you'd want to actually compost those, but I don't compost yet, so I don't really know. |
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| Is there anything to them? If composted first, sure. Otherwise no. Nothing in them is available to the plants to use until AFTER they are fully decomposed and the soil bacteria can go to work on them to release the nutrients. Decomposition requires time. Dave |
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| used coffee grounds are a source of nitrogen after they are composted. used coffee has neutral ph of 6.8, fresh coffee/ unbrewed will raise the acidity of your soil. |
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- Posted by californian 10 (My Page) on Wed, Apr 13, 11 at 13:20
| Over the years I have probably put a thousand eggshells in my garden. I just throw them as is in the garden and they get ground up when I rototill. The main ingredient in eggshells is calcium carbonate (the same brittle white stuff that chalk, limestone, cave stalactites, sea shells, coral, and pearls are made of). The shell itself is about 95% CaCO3 (which is also the main ingredient in sea shells). The remaining 5% includes calcium phosphate and magnesium carbonate and soluble and insoluble proteins. |
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| Has anyone tried using chalk? Like childrens street chalk? I have a ton of that in my garage. hmmmm???? |
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- Posted by therustyone (My Page) on Thu, Apr 14, 11 at 10:32
| I grew up on a farm, We raised almost all of our food. Most kitchen waste went to the pigs & chickens. It is amazing just how fast things like Here in S TX, in town, with no pigs, chickens, etc, I do it this way because I know I would probably never So I say yes, putting your waste in your garden is a very good idea! Rusty |
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| Coffee grounds may not specifically feed your plants but they will feed the worms, which WILL feed your plants. Great, great stuff. Edie |
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- Posted by gardenman101 Z5 SPFLD MA (gardenman101@aol.com) on Fri, Apr 15, 11 at 20:09
| What about if you ground up all these items in a food processer or blender then poured into the hole at planting time and mix well. Would this make the nutrients and minerals more readily avalible? Just a thought. |
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- Posted by bluebirdie Z8 SF E Bay (My Page) on Sat, Apr 16, 11 at 15:33
| Tea, coffee grounds, banana and peels, leftover fatfree yogurt, etc for my raised beds too. I usually collect a large bowl of these, dig a hole between plants and burry them. After rotating the spots, a few months later when I dig into the old holes, they're like earthworm heaven. Like gardenman said, I do chop up the peels into smaller pieces. |
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| I think I'll try this, this year. I have been trying to keep a compost pile going, but not very successfully and I feel like I am only feeding the trees that are near it. I dont have a sunny space to waste on a compost pile. As I see it, even if the kitchen waste doesnt break down fast enough to feed the plants this year, it will be feeding next years plants. I'll just use my fenced in compost pile for leaves (which I have huge amounts of) and lawn trimmings. |
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- Posted by greenthumbwannabe 8(kin_seeker@msn.com) onSat, May 7, 11 at 2:37
| I am buildinga worm box (cheap worm bin on google) it will not help this year but next year I will be ready. I grind banan peels and too over ripe bananas in blender and water roses with mixture. I have great plants. Also use starbuck free coffee grounds on clemantis and other plants gorgous flowers. |
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| Just start a compost bin. The options are practically limitless and you'll be able to incorporate a lot more "freebies" than the above list. While it may seem like too much trouble or mess at first, if you have the skills, time, and interest for gardening, you'll also succeed at composting. The results will be worth it. |
Here is a link that might be useful: composting forum
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- Posted by NCbackyardgardener none (My Page) on Sat, May 7, 11 at 18:54
| Everything needs to be broken down, as mentioned by others. Depending on the heat and humidity of your area, they may start to offer nutrients to your plants. Eggshells in the hole probably will not give calcium or pH buffering until the following year, they are fairly resistant. Banana peels are not particularly "rich" in anything, but they will offer organic content just as any other plant waste would. I would start a compost pile with all your scraps and as it decomposes you can top dress the soil with it |
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| What about if you ground up all these items in a food processer or blender then poured into the hole at planting time and mix well. Then it's no longer FREE. |
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| All my garbage, other than meat, goes into the garden. I just put it under my permanent mulch of leaves, sawdust, whatever I can find, or bury it if I am feeling energetic(not often lately). :-) JMO, Tom |
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| I use all of the above items in my worm bin. Then I get lovely worm compost to add to my garden. It does take some time to get it started but the compost is amazing!! |
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| eplina (and others) Adding eggshells whole or ground, to the planting hole, or even to the soil will not help with BER (Blossom End Rot). The cause of BER is calcium distribution within the plant and is rarely related to lack of calcium in the soil. Never mind the fact that it takes more than a single growing season to break down eggshells. BER Articles from reputable sources: Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet North Carolina State University Virginia Cooperative Extension If you are interetested in reading more technical articles on the subject of blossom end rot, you can check out the articles at this link: Google Scholar Search results for blossom end rot Betsy |
Here is a link that might be useful: FAQ page on Blossom End Rot
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