How to Clean Egg Shells and Use Egg Shells in Your Garden
Eggs are a natural, renewable source of energy and nutrition for both humans and animals. But like many things, eggs can get dirty and must be cleaned before they are used. This is especially true when they are stored or used for food preparation or for crafts.
Clean your egg shells by placing them in a bowl of water and washing them with soapy water, then rinse well. This will remove any dirt, germs, and bacteria from the eggshells. You can also use a dishwasher to clean your eggs or put them in the oven on low heat for a few minutes.
Dry your egg shells by lining them up on a baking sheet and drying them in the sun or in an oven for a few minutes. This will help dry out the shells so that they can be crushed more easily and quickly in your compost pile.
Use egg shells in your garden
Eggshells are a natural fertilizer that you can use in the garden to boost the calcium levels in your plants and discourage something called blossom-end rot. This can reduce the overall growth and yield of your crops.
Plants that need extra calcium include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and melon. They can benefit from a sprinkle of eggshell powder or by simply scattering shards around the base of your vegetable garden.
You can also use egg shells as a nutrient-boosting water treatment for your plant soil. All you need is a gallon of water and 10 clean, dry eggshells. Once the eggshells are in the water, let them sit overnight and then strain them out. This milky-looking liquid is great for adding nutrients to your plants, and you can use it on both indoor and outdoor plants.
Crushing egg shells before putting them in the compost is another helpful step that will make your pile healthier and more manageable. This process will break down the shells more completely and reduce any odor and smell that may arise.
This is a very simple and inexpensive way to add more nutrients and minerals to your garden. You can even make this a regular part of your garden routine and use it year-round!
The most common and best way to use egg shells in the garden is to crumble them and spread them on the surface of your vegetables, herbs and flower beds. They are an excellent weed-control product and also help keep snails, slugs and other pests from eating your plants.
A final and more creative way to use egg shells in your garden is to crush them into a fine powder. This powder is a wonderful cleaning agent that can be used to clean pots and other surfaces in the home or garden that need a little more toughness than soap and water will offer.
You can also mix small to coarse-ground eggshells into any garden soil or container garden soil for improved airflow and drainage. This is a particularly useful tip for hard-packing soils where good airflow is important to root health and nutrient delivery.