Why Are Eggshells Good for Tomato Plants? DIY Fertilizer

The combination of Eggshells and tomatoes might not seem to be a suitable food choice but surely a healthy one below the ground. Why are eggshells good for tomato plants is one of the questions that will leave you in doubt, but with the answer to it, you can do miracles benefits down below the soil and get fruitful benefits above the ground.

This DIY fertilizer might sound gross to you, but what goes inside soil can be gross, right? In this write-up you’ll find how to use eggshells for tomato plants as a fertilizer? And after going till the end, you will get to know some hidden tricks that will strengthen your tomato plants like never before.

Tomatoes which are scientifically known as Solanum Lycopersicon, are the juice-rich fruits that keep on giving one or the other benefit to human health. Whether used to dress a salad or as a base in your Pasta, the glorious tomatoes have no end to its usage. Even the tomato plant is one of the most generous and rewarding plants that grow endlessly into your garden, giving you fruit for a long time.

However, like for the growth of any plant, fertilizers are essential; the same theory applies to tomato plants as well. One of the finest fertilizers for tomato plant lies right into your kitchen, which you are throwing away every morning after your breakfast. What is it? The Eggshells.

Eggshells are an excellent component that deserves to go right into your garden soil and not into the tomato plants. Eggshells are highly rich in calcium, thus, when mixed into the soil at the right proportion and with the suitable method, they can create incredible impact, all useful for your plants, including the tomato plants.

Also Read: White Lines on Tomato Leaves?

Are Eggshells Good for Growing Tomatoes?

When surfing across the internet, you would find several DIY fertilizers that sound a myth, and when tried, they actually prove to be a myth, but the case is not the same with Eggshells. Eggshells are science-backed methods or DIY fertilizers that have a remarkable impact on the tomato plant and its fruits.

How Eggshells Can Benefit Tomato Plants?

The outer shell of the egg is one rigid structure that is naturally made up of calcium carbonate. Entirely calcium, these shells add a strong nutritional boost to the soil and though to the plants as well. When used as fertilizers, eggshells provide the soil and plants with additional minerals, including phosphorus and potassium.

These minerals further help in maximizing the harvest of tomatoes and minimize the likelihood of blossom end rot. Moreover, both phosphorus and potassium from eggshells support the increased production of aromatic oils that add the desired flavour to tomatoes.

A widespread problem that every individual who has ever tried to grow tomato plants might relate to is the “blossom end rot.” It does not matter how good you are with growing vegetables in your backyard, blossom end rot with tomatoes is something you would surely come across once in a while.

When the water supply inside the plant body is not very well regulated, it results in rotted ends (bottom of the tomato), despite how beautifully or juicy the tomatoes have grown. This is a result affect the whole fruit and leaves it of no use. The necessity of miniaturization, though, can be fulfilled if eggshells are used for the tomato plant’s growth and health.

Calcium content in eggshells helps regulate the moisture of the tomato plant, thus resulting in clean and healthy grown fruits without any rot or marks.

How to Use Eggshells for Tomato Plants?

Like any other plant, tomato plants also require three major minerals in order to grow profoundly; nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, calcium is another essential requirement that helps build the cell wall of a plant providing it strength and nourishment. Thus, to fulfill the need, one must use eggshells for tomato plants. To know how to put eggshells on tomato plants, read further below:

Using eggshells for tomato plants is relatively easy; however, some tips and tricks can help more profoundly if followed.

For getting out the best results, follow these DIY fertilizer methods:

Also Read: Tomato Seedlings Stopped Growing

Way 1: Use crumbled eggshells

• Firstly, take a fair number of eggshells (any eggs) and then clean and dry them nicely. (we will explain the benefits of cleaning and drying later in the article).
• Now crush and crumble the eggshells nicely using a potato masher or a big spoon.
• Mix the crumbled eggshells directly to the soil, preferably an inch below the ground level. Perform this step before you place a plant or sow the seeds.

Eggshells take along time to break down naturally and mix into the soil; thus, it is ideal if you plan it for the next season’s or year’s plantation. Over time ones the eggshells would finally transform into fertilizers; it will nourish the tomato plants with the required minerals showing you tremendously positive results above the ground.

Way 2: Brew Eggshell tea for your tomato plants

Imagine how a cup of tea helps you freshen and rejuvenate quickly in no time; the same formula applies when you feed your tomato plants with Eggshell tea. This is one simple yet effective method that will give you quicker results, unlike waiting for the eggshells to break down naturally in the above process.

• Firstly, take a fair number of eggshells, wash and dry them nicely under the sun.
• Now crush and crumble the eggshells nicely using a potato masher or a big spoon.
• Empty them into a container and, on the other hand, boil some water until it starts crackling.
• Now pour the hot and boiled water over the crumbled eggshells and let it soak/ brew nicely.
• Once the egg tea is brewed, wait for it to come to room temperature naturally.

Feed your hungry tomato plants with the same water regularly, just like you do to water the plants.  It is advisable to soak the tomato plants an inch above the soil, once a week or a little frequently during peak summers.

Using eggshells reduce the acidity of the soil as well as letting it help to aerate.

Way 3: Use eggshells with vinegar

Eggshells are indeed an effective mineral source for plants, but they take quite a long time to naturally breaking down and fertilizing the soil. While you put the crushed eggshells directly into the ground, do not wish for an overnight miracle as the process will take a couple of months to show its effects. But for some immediate results, you can use eggshells with vinegar. Want to know how? Have a look below:

• Firstly, take a fair number of eggshells, wash and dry them nicely under the sun.
• Now crush and crumble the eggshells nicely using a potato masher or a big spoon.
• Toast them in a thick stainless-steel pan until they are kind of burned (avoid using aluminum or non-stick pan, for that matter).
• Further, mix vinegar and burned eggshell powder at a 1:1 ratio, or you can increase the quantity equally depending upon the spread of the garden area.
• Keep the solution for at least four weeks, but make sure you shake it daily so that the eggshell powder does not sit at the bottom and dissolves well.
• After four weeks, once the eggshell and vinegar solution is ready, mix one tablespoon of that solution into a litre of water. You can use this water for foliar spraying or right at the plant’s base and the nearby soil.

Eggshell and vinegar solution works as a natural deterrent and physical barrier against all types of pests and bugs that can potentially damage your gardening.

All these eggshell-based DIY fertilizers can be used for several other plants in your garden, including broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, amaranth, eggplant, spinach, cucumber, and a variety of peppers. Similarly, you can use them for quite a lot of varieties of indoor plants as well.

Related Post: How to Use Epsom Salt for Tomato Plant?

Crushed Eggshells Good for Tomato Plants

Crushed eggshells are good for tomato plants, and the above explanation proofs a lot about it. However, it is only the pulverized form of eggshells that must be used for any DIY fertilizers. Even when crushed to a powder, Eggshells take a couple of months to break down and blend with the soil naturally. Thus, if used in big particles, their process of breaking down naturally might increase more.

Further, as focused on the DIY eggshell process above, it is advisable to wash and dry the shells before using them in any method. Eggs are one of the common carriers of salmonella (a type of bacteria known for causing food-related illness), which is mostly present in the remains of cracked eggshells.

Unless you are throwing them into a garbage disposal, it is acceptable not to wash them. But if you are going to use them as fertilizer in your garden soil, it is advisable to wash them clean, and then sun dry them until the last drop of moisture is gone away. You can also sterilize them in the microwave for 30 minutes at about 200°F.

Washed, dried, sterilized, and crushed eggshells can be stored for years in an air-tight container. Only make sure they are away from any and all kinds of moisture. Eggshell powder is also one of the great calcium supplements for pets. Humans can also have it as a calcium supplement; however, there are still not enough researches for advising the same.

Other beneficial DIY fertilizers for tomato plants

Eggshells and coffee grounds are good for tomato plants. Similarly, like the waste from eggs, you can use your coffee ground remains as soil fertilizer which you would have else way thrown away in the bin. 

When used as fertilizer, coffee ground contributes nitrogen to the soil, which is one of the most significant contributions to plant growth. They provide a healthy boost by deterring slugs and bugs, whereas they attract earthworms (a boon for plant growth).

Also, as per soil studies, coffee grounds help lowering the soil’s pH, making them favourable for acidic plants like tomatoes. For using them as a DIY fertilizer,

• Add coffee grounds to the compost bin. Make sure the proportion of coffee ground goes not more than 20%.
• Spread a thin layer of coffee ground on the top 1 to 2 inches of soil near the tomato plant base.
• You can also add coffee ground on planting holes before you transfer tomato plants to the soil.

So, this is the guide that will help you in utilizing eggshells for tomato plants. It is not only the component but also the correct method that helps get out the best results of your efforts. Go ahead with the tips and grow the juiciest tomatoes of all time in your garden.