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These 16 Food Scraps Can
Do Wonders
For Fertilizing Your Garden
By TIM BUTTERS
Coffee
Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, which makes them great slow-release fertilizers. Sprinkle leftover grounds on the soil and gently rake them in.
Coffee grounds work best
on plants that thrive in acidic conditions. Keep them
away from tomatoes and rhododendrons because their tips may turn brown when they come into contact.
Bananas
Bananas are loaded with potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and antioxidants. This makes the inedible banana peels perfect for fertilizer.
To make a fertilizer slurry, soak your banana peels in water before blending them in a food processor. To make a spray fertilizer, soak the peels in water for seven days or more.
Bone Meal
Bone meal's secret ingredient is phosphorus, which is the key to quality soil. It's also rich in calcium, which is great for tomatoes and peppers.
To prepare bone meal, pick bones clean of meat and fat, then pressure cook them for five minutes. Next, place them in an oven and bake at 425 degrees for about 1 hour.
Let them cool, place them in a bag, and then beat them with a rolling pin until they are crushed into tiny shards. Finally, blend them into a powdery substance, and you're done.
Eggs
Eggshells make a great fertilizer, as they are rich
in calcium carbonate, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. They also boost the alkaline level of the soil and lower its pH.
To prepare an eggshell fertilizer, wash and dry the shells before crushing them into a powder with a rolling pin, then sprinkle them around your plants.
Tea
Tea leaves have natural fertilizers such as tannic acid. As the tea bag breaks down, all those nutrients are absorbed by the soil, helping the plants grow.
Bury your tea bags in the soil to use as a natural fertilizer in your garden. You can also simply brew them again and use the weakened brew as a liquid fertilizer on your plants.