A gardening expert has shared a simple homemade plant feed made from a common kitchen leftover that can help plants grow stronger and healthier this autumn. The feed, which uses eggshells and white vinegar, provides a concentrated source of soluble calcium to support plant development.
Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ifzaal revealed the step-by-step method in a recent video, explaining that no shop-bought or chemical feeds are needed. In the video's caption, Ifzaal wrote: "Do this next time you crack open a few eggs! Your garden will thank you!"
How to Make the Eggshell Feed
To begin, rinse the eggshells thoroughly to remove any residue, then leave them to dry completely for roughly 24 hours, or place them in an oven on a low heat. Once dry, crush the shells into a fine powder and put them in a jug.
Slowly add white vinegar to the crushed shells, which should cause them to fizz. Leave the mixture until the fizzing stops completely, which Ifzaal explained should take a couple of hours, though the solution can also be left to sit overnight.
Next, filter the shells through a muslin cloth, sieve, or netted basket into a small container. By this point, the vinegar should have drawn out the nutrients from the eggshells.
Why Calcium Helps Plants
Ifzaal said: "So if you've followed all those steps, what you'll be left with is a concentrated, soluble calcium feed for your plants." Before applying the mixture, gardeners should dilute the solution with water, roughly one part solution to 20 parts water.
Ifzaal continued: "And if you're wondering why you should try this or why calcium is good for your plants in the first place, well, let me tell you. Calcium is an important nutrient for your plants when it comes to helping them to build strong cell walls. So it supports healthy new growth and can help your plants to develop stronger roots and stems."
Additional Benefits of Eggshells
According to Gardeners' World, eggs contain other beneficial nutrients and minerals, such as small amounts of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, and manganese. These nutrients can help lower soil acidity, benefit fast-growing plants that may struggle in calcium-deficient soil, and act as a deterrent against pests such as slugs and snails.
Eggshells can be used as a natural fertiliser for a variety of vegetable crops, including potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, courgettes, marrows and squash. However, experts at Gardeners' World have cautioned against using them on "lime-hating" plants, such as blueberries, rhododendrons, pieris and azaleas.
