It's no secret that eggs are packed with protein, vitamins and minerals - a true superfood that's a regular on almost every breakfast plate. But while the yolk and white disappear into the omelet, don't throw away the eggshells! The average person on Earth eats around 150 to 200 eggs a year - which means that many eggshells could be used for something much greener (literally).
Your plants deserve an eggshell SPA treatment, but you don't. compost in the basket. Eggshells are made up of as many as 96 % calcium carbonate – so they are practically a natural version of that pill your grandmother takes for her bones. Except in this case, they help the bones of… your plants!
1. Natural fertilizer: calcium the gardening way
Why buy expensive fertilizers when you already have a treasure trove of nutrients in your kitchen? Eggshells are like little packets of natural calcium that your soil gobbles up with more joy than a child would a chocolate bar.
Good news for lazy gardeners – no need to grind it into a fine powder. Just sprinkle it around your roses, tomatoes or peppers and watch them grow like water. Bonus points if you give them a gentle compliment while you do it – plants love compliments.
2. Natural protection against snails: no mucus and no bad conscience
Have you ever been annoyed in the middle of the morning by the sight of a gnawed salad? It's time for a natural anti-snail system – coarsely crushed eggshells! Their sharp edges act like mini barbed wire and will reliably deter them from your precious vegetables.
Snails love moisture, darkness, and soft paths - so offer them the opposite: sun, light, and eggshell edges.
3. Organic eggshell seed pots: nature in nature
Eggshells are not only a nutrient, but also great mini containers for growing seeds. They are biodegradable, perfectly sized, and almost artistic in appearance – as long as you don’t break them too violently. Once the seed sprouts, simply plant the entire shell in the soil. The shell will decompose, and the plant will gratefully draw nutrients from its “cradle.”
Beginner tip: Rinse the shells thoroughly before using (no one wants an eggy smell in the garden), then make a small dimple in them – perfect for small seeds and big plans.
Finally…
If you've been throwing away eggshells, don't be ashamed—we've all been "shell wasters" at one time or another. But now that you know about their gardening superpowers, you might look at them with a little more respect. And you'll feel good about it—you're recycling, you're helping the environment, and your salad is (finally!) safe from slobbery intruders.
And if anyone asks you why you have broken eggshells in your garden? Just say, “It’s high ecology with a touch of the French countryside.”
