Did you know that Kitchen Items and Leftovers can be used in a garden? We do have an exciting list for those who are interested!
1. Used Coffee Grounds
Ever heard of coffee grounds as a garden additive? It’s true! These little brown bits from your morning brew are surprisingly helpful.
Not only will they enrich the soil, but by decomposing in the soil, these caffeinated pebbles also help fertilize and improve texture over time giving the soil an extra boost of nutrients.
2. Eggshells
Eggshells are a nutrient-rich, calcium carbonate source that you can use to help your plants grow. They contain important nutrients like magnesium and phosphorus as well!
Crush up an egg shell with some water in order for it be more easily absorbed by the soil or potting mix underneath.
3. Old Milk Jug
Upcycling your old plastic milk jug is a simple way to make it more useful. Simply heat up the needle and poke holes in its lid so water can flow through freely!
4. Use Citrus Fruits to Start Seeds
Put a hole in the bottom of your banana peel for drainage, fill it with potting soil and place seeds. When they’re ready to be planted out or transplanting time comes just plant as usual!
As the peel decomposes, it will enrich your garden soil with nutrients!
5. Used Coffee Filter in the Bottom of a Pot
Next time you repot a plant, use coffee filters to keep soil in place. This way the drainage holes are free from clogging and there is no sneakiness with watering-down after each session!
6. Use Vegetable Cooking Water to Fertilize Plants
When you boil or steam some vegetables on the stovetop, don’t pour down your drained water. Instead of throwing out valuable nutrients that can be used to fertilize plants and help them grow healthier—water your plants with this water for some extra benefits.
7. Use Banana and Orange Peels as Fertilizer
In addition to being a good source of phosphorus and potassium, bananas are rich in fiber. The peels can be added directly into your garden or compost pile for use as an alternative fertilizer!
8. Use Nutshells in Compost
Nutshells are a great addition to your compost heap because they don’t break down as quickly and you can use them in the mulch.
However, black walnut hulls contain large concentrations of juglone which is toxic for many plants so avoid those if possible!
9. Paper Towel Rolls
Rather than throwing away the paper towel or toilet roll, use it in your garden. Cut pieces of the material and press into soil around newly planted seedlings to give them extra protection from slugs and other ground dwelling pests!
10. Pepper Leftovers
The leftover parts of peppers can be used to keep garden pests away. Blend these, strain and mix with water in a spray bottle for best results!
Use this solution as an organic pest control on your plants or veggies that have been attacked by bugs before they do any damage.
11. Fruit and Vegetable Scraps
Composting is a great way to get rid of food scraps, but if you’re looking for even more ways on how your garden can use it then try blending the partial fruit and vegetable ingredients with water in order make an interesting smoothie.
You could also mix this paste into any growing medium such as potting soil, to make them nutrient-rich! This will be perfect when planting flowers or vegetables, like peppers and tomatoes when they need extra nutrients.
12. Kitchen Scraps as Houseplants!
You can turn your kitchen scraps into a houseplant that thrives in the garden! Take an avocado, lemon or apricot for example.
13. Used Tea Bags and Leaves
You can use tea leaves in a lot of ways, from tucking them behind plants to fertilizing the soil. They contain 4.4% nitrogen and 0-1/2 potassium per cup which will provide organic fertilizer for your garden while also providing stability on topsoil!
14. Rice Water
Get rid of plant lice, aphids, fruit flies with rice water. According to research this is better than tap water and helps the plants grow at a much faster rate!
15. Leftover Bones
Leftover bones from a meal can help strengthen the soil in which plants grow. Ground up, these leftover bits of food provide nutrients to your garden and make it more sustainable for future use!
16. Pepper, Onion, and Garlic Scraps to Get Rid of Pests
To keep pesky bugs away, just collect the ends of your spicy onions, garlic and peppers and steep in water for 1-7 days. The smell from this liquid can be used as a spray on garden soil or foliage to repel most insects!
17. Cinnamon
A little cinnamon powder will give your plants the protection it needs to avoid fungus. As this spice has antibacterial properties, you can be sure that diseases are at bay too!
18. Junk Newspapers, Mail, or any Paper
If you have a kitchen drawer stacked with junk mail, don’t be so quick to shred it all. Instead use the paper as mulch and spread around your plant’s base for great results!
Old newspapers are perfect as well. In fact, any junk paper that has no artificial dyes or chemicals on it, is perfect as your organic garden mulch!
19. Citrus Peels
If you’re tired of cats taking over your garden and using it as their litter box, rub some orange peel on the spot they frequently walk on. Cats will be gone before you know it!
20. Whole Grain Cereals
Whole-grain cereals and bread leftovers can be a great way to help your dirt. Digging them up from the bottom is how you do it!
They’ll keep those earthworms happy too, so put some in there for good measure – earthworms love being fed, and your soil will thank you later!
21. Milk and Water
Combining milk and water not only will rid your plants of pests, the calcium in it helps to grow them stronger. It also fights aphids which can lead to blossom end rot as well as lowering risk for mosaic leaf virus!
22. Fish Head
Bury fish heads into your garden soil to provide an excellent source of nitrogen for plants. Please remember, bury them deeply so as not to attract any unwanted critters!
23. Pasta Water
The leftover water from boiling pasta is rich in starch that can fertilize your plants pretty well. It also contains traces of calcium, phosphorus and iron, which help boost plant growth by providing beneficial nutrients for them to use as they grow taller.
24. Egg Holders
Use the empty cardboard egg holders as a seedling starter tray. Fill in pockets with soil and drop seeds to germinate; hardboard will soak up excess moisture, and you get 12 mini pots for your garden all at once!