As January's chill sets in, a simple household item is being hailed as a winter gardening essential. Instead of heading for the bin, your used eggshells could hold the key to a healthier, more vibrant garden come spring.
The Winter Gardening Hack You Need
While many gardeners retreat indoors during the colder months, one expert is urging Brits not to delay a crucial outdoor task. TikTok gardening guru Ish, known online as gardening.with.ish, has shared a video explaining the surprising benefits of repurposing breakfast leftovers directly into the soil.
In his latest clip, posted in January 2026, Ish encourages viewers to "crack on" with this eco-friendly practice. He outlines several compelling reasons to stop discarding shells, transforming a common waste product into a powerful garden ally.
A Natural Barrier Against Slugs
The first major advantage is pest control. Crushed eggshells create a sharp, jagged barrier that slugs and snails find highly unappealing.
"The crisp and sharp edges of shells are not appealing to slugs. They will not go over it," Ish explains. By sprinkling the crushed shells around the base of vulnerable plants, you can create a protective ring that deters these common garden pests from feasting on your precious foliage.
Creating a Homemade, Slow-Release Fertiliser
Beyond pest control, eggshells serve as an excellent source of nutrition for your plants. They are rich in calcium, a vital mineral that promotes strong root growth and aids in the efficient transfer of nutrients within the plant.
Ish recommends grinding the shells into a fine powder, either by using a blender or crushing them in a sealed bag. This powder can then be mixed into multi-purpose compost, added to the planting hole for new plants, or simply sprinkled on the soil surface and watered in.
"Because they are quite hard, they break down fairly slowly, which means you get a nice slow-releasing fertiliser and nothing too aggressive," he notes. This provides a gentle, sustained nutrient boost over time.
Additional Benefits for Your Garden
The uses for eggshells extend even further. Their calcium content can help prevent common plant disorders like blossom end rot in tomatoes, peppers, and squash. When added to a compost heap, they accelerate decomposition thanks to their mineral content.
Gardeners can also use halved eggshells as biodegradable pots for starting seeds, which can be planted directly into the ground, minimising root disturbance. Furthermore, they can help balance soil pH and add other beneficial minerals like magnesium and phosphorus.
This January, the message from gardening experts is clear: think twice before you toss those eggshells. This simple, cost-free act of recycling could give your outdoor space a significant head start, enriching the soil, protecting plants, and laying the groundwork for a flourishing garden in the months ahead.
