Looking for the best way to use egg shells this year to help protect and power your tomato plants?
Every gardener has heard the statement at one time or another that egg shells are great for your tomato plants. And that statement is indeed very true. In fact, eggshells can be quite the valuable resource for gardeners all over the garden – but especially when it comes to growing tomato plants.
Rich in calcium and easy to find, eggshells provide a natural and cost-effective solution to helping tomatoes grow and produce better. They can also prevent common tomato plant issues and promote stronger growth. But – and this is key – only when they are used in the right way!
How To Use Egg Shells To Help Your Tomato Plants
The Importance Of Calcium For Tomatoes
So why are egg shells so incredible for tomato plants? It all starts because they are loaded with calcium. Calcium is an essential nutrient for tomato plants. It plays a vital role in cell wall development and overall plant structure. But it also helps eliminate the risk of blossom end rot.
One of the most common issues tomato growers face is blossom end rot, a condition caused by you guessed it, a calcium deficiency. Blossom end rot starts as dark, sunken spots on the bottom of tomatoes. It not only ruins their appearance, but also their taste. See: How To Prevent Blossom End Rot On Your Tomatoes.
By adding calcium to the soil via egg shells, gardeners can prevent this issue – all while helping their plants grow stronger and healthier. But eggs shells don’t just contain calcium – they also have magnesium and potassium within them – which help with growth and fruit development as well.
But to get all of those great benefits of egg shells into the soil and into your plants – you have to use them the right way. And all too often, this is where many gardeners make a critical mistake when planting egg shells with their tomato plants.
The Right Way To Use Egg Shells When Planting Tomato Plants
Although some gardeners scatter crushed eggshells into their planting hole – or directly onto the soil above afterwards, this method is less effective when it comes to providing your tomato plants with the calcium they need this year. Why? Because whole or large shell pieces break down very slowly.
Eggshells in their natural form can take months or even years to decompose, meaning the calcium they contain will not be immediately available to plants. But there is actually an easy remedy to the problem!
To maximize the benefits of eggshells, the best approach is to pulverize them into a fine powder using a coffee grinder or blender. Pulverized eggshells break down quickly, releasing calcium into the soil faster, where it can be absorbed by the tomato plant’s roots. Affiliate Product Link: Hamilton Beach Fresh Grind Electric Coffee Grinder
This method not only ensures that your plants receive the nutrients they need to reduce the risk of blossom end rot – but that they also get all of energy in the shells to use for growth and production this year.
How to Use Eggshell Powder When Planting Tomatoes
Once you have your egg shells ground into a powder, it’s time to use them in the best way possible. And that starts right when you plant your tomatoes!
When planting tomato transplants, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of eggshell powder into the bottom of each planting hole. Mix the powder into the surrounding soil around the roots along with compost. Together, they will give the young roots everything they need for fast growth.
After covering the roots with soil, sprinkle an additional 2 tablespoons of eggshell powder on top of the planting hole. This top layer of calcium will slowly leach nutrients down to the roots every time it rains or when you water your plants.
Reapply the egg shell powder on top of the soil every month. This two-step method of egg shell powder will all but guarantee a continuous supply of calcium to your tomato plants throughout the growing season.
Using Eggshells to Deter Slugs
There is a way to use crushed egg shells to help your tomato plants as well. In addition to providing essential nutrients, eggshells can also help protect your tomato plants from pests. Slugs, a common garden pest, can cause significant damage by feeding on tomato leaves and fruit. Fortunately, eggshells can act as a natural deterrent.
Scatter crushed eggshells around the base of your tomato plants to create a barrier. The sharp edges of the eggshell fragments make it tough for slugs to crawl over without slicing their soft outer skin – effectively keeping them away from your plants.
Additional Tips for Using Eggshells in the Garden
Eggshells are a great addition to your garden routine and can be used in several ways to improve soil health. One effective method is composting. Crushed eggshells can be added to your compost pile. There, they will slowly break down and contribute valuable calcium to the mix. The added calcium helps create a richer, more balanced compost.
Another useful approach is mulching. By mixing finely ground eggshell powder with other organic mulch materials like leaves, straw, or grass clippings, you can enhance the mulch’s ability to retain moisture, improve soil structure, and slowly release nutrients into the ground.
Even when you’re not actively planting, you can use egg shell powder as a natural soil amendment. Simply sprinkle it around your garden beds or throughout the soil to help maintain and gradually improve fertility over time.
Here is to powering your tomato plants with egg shells this year – and your entire garden too!
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