Did you know that leftover eggshells are actually the most recommended food waste material to add to your compost?! In this post, I will discuss the ways you can use eggshells in your garden compost to get the best results for your garden.

Do you wonder how to use other food scraps to increase your garden soil health? Check out these posts on How to Use Banana Peels In Your Compost, and How to Use Coffee Grounds in Your Garden!

Can Eggshells be Composted?

Yes, eggshells can be composted! Eggshells are a great addition to your compost pile or bin because they contain a high calcium content. Which can help your plants grow strong and healthy.

How to Use Eggshells In Your Garden Compost

To compost eggshells, crush them into smaller pieces to help them break down more quickly in your compost bin. The best way to do this is by crushing them by hand into smaller pieces. You can also use a blender, coffee grinder, or food processor to grind them up into fine powder.

Once you have crushed the eggshells, you can add the eggshell powder to your outdoor compost pile or bin along with your brown materials (dried leaves, shredded paper, and dead grass) and green materials (vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds). Make sure to mix everything together well, and keep your compost pile moist and aerated.

Over time, the eggshells will break down and become a nutrient-rich addition to your compost heap, helping to nourish your garden plants and improve the quality of your soil.

Can You Add Eggshells Directly into a Vegetable Garden?

Yes! Eggshells can be a great way to deter common pests like slugs, snails, and even some types of crawling insects.

Crush the eggshells: Crush the eggshells into small pieces, or grind them into a powder using a blender or food processor. You want the pieces to be small enough that they won’t hurt your plants, but big enough to create a barrier that pests will have trouble crossing.

Create a barrier: Sprinkle the crushed eggshells around the base of your plants, creating a barrier that pests will have to crawl over to get to your plants. You can also sprinkle the eggshells in areas where pests are likely to enter your garden, such as along the edge of your garden beds.

Reapply as necessary: Over time, the finely-ground eggshells will break down and lose their effectiveness, so it is a good idea to reapply them as necessary to maintain pest control. You may also need to apply more eggshells after heavy rain or watering, as the moisture can cause them to break down more quickly.

Can You Compost Raw Eggs?

Yes, you can compost raw eggs! In fact, eggs can be a great addition to your compost pile, as they are a good source of nitrogen and other nutrients that can help with plant growth.

When adding raw eggs to your compost pile, it’s best to crush or break them open first, to help the organic material break down more quickly. To avoid attracting pests like rodents or raccoons to your compost pile, bury the eggshells and egg contents in the middle of your pile, rather than leaving them exposed on top.

Even though raw eggs are safe to compost, cooked eggs or egg dishes should not be composted. They can attract pests, have added grease and dairy products, and can create unpleasant odors in your compost pile.

How do Eggshells Affect Soil pH?

Eggshells can impact the pH level of soil, as they are composed mostly of calcium carbonate, which is an alkaline substance. When eggshells are added to soil, they can help to raise the pH of the soil, making the soil more alkaline similar to agricultural lime.

TIP: A soil test will confirm whether you have acidic soil. Some plants thrive in acidic soil such as blueberries and hydrangeas, so it is important to know why you are reducing the acidity in your soil

Plants That Love Eggshells

While most of your plants will benefit from the calcium of your eggshells, some plants thrive with a little help from our handy food waste:

• Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Eggplant
• Lettuce
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard

Other Gardening Posts You Might Like:

• How to Use Banana Peels In Your Compost
• How to Use Coffee Grounds In Your Garden
• How to Grow Peppers From Seed
• How to Plan a Canning Garden

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