Most of us automatically throw kitchen scraps into the bin without realizing how valuable they can be to the garden. Peels from vegetables, leftover fruit, coffee grounds or eggshells can all add nutrients to the soil and help plants grow healthy and strong. Making your own homemade fertilizer is simple, environmentally friendly and gives leftovers a second chance.
In the colder months, when the garden is slowly hibernating, we often forget that even kitchen scraps can be used to create something useful. Peels, remains of fruit, vegetables or they can turn ordinary compost into a rich fertilizer that will encourage plant growth in the spring. You just need to know what it contains, how to handle it and how to maintain a balance between moisture, air and nutrients. With this simple step, you not only save nature, but also give your garden new strength.
For a video by Epic gardening on easy ways to compost kitchen waste, check out YouTube:
What belongs in compost and what doesn’t
First of all, it is good to know which kitchen scraps have real value and which, on the other hand, do not belong in the compost. Valuable ingredients include the remains of fruits and vegetables without oils and spices, apples, potatoes, but also coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells and a small amount of baked goods. These materials are rich in nitrogen, potassium, calcium and other nutrients that plants can use well.
On the contrary, it is better to leave out meat, fish, dairy products, oils, pickled foods and parts of plants attacked by diseases. These raw materials can attract pests, cause odors or spread diseases to your garden.
“Spending time in the garden means watching nature return to what it created. Composting household scraps is one of the best ways to complete that circle,” write the authors on TreeHugger.
Basic rules of composting
1. Ratio of green and brown material
Green materials such as fruit, vegetables, tea and coffee supply nitrogen, while brown materials include paper, dry leaves, wood chips and other sources of carbon. The optimal ratio is approximately two parts brown to one part green.
2. Small pieces for faster decomposition
The smaller your ingredients are, the faster they break down. Cut peels and larger residues into smaller pieces so that the microorganisms can work efficiently.
3. Moisture and ventilation
Compost should not be dry or waterlogged. Keep it moist like a wrung out sponge and stir it regularly to get oxygen.
4. Ripening and use
After a few weeks, the compost will be dark, crumbly and smell of the woods. This is a sign that it is ready to use. Mix it into the soil or use it as a mulch. Well-prepared compost contributes not only to the health of the soil, but also to its ability to retain water, which is especially important in dry periods.
Tips for specific ingredients
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Coffee grounds – ideal for roses, azaleas and strawberries, finely scattered around the plants.
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Eggshells – broken into dust, they supply calcium and help prevent soil drying out.
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Banana peels – slowly break down and supply potassium.
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Tea leaves – without sugar or artificial additives, suitable for acid-loving plants.
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Vegetable and fruit leftovers – parts without oil or salt, cut into pieces, add them to the center of the compost.
Homemade garden fertilizer from kitchen scraps is an easy way to turn what would otherwise end up in the trash into a valuable component of your garden. Nature is cyclical and you have the opportunity to become a part of this process. Just follow a few basic principles, add a pinch of patience, and your garden will pay you back.
