What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

You get bombarded with free fartychokes ( that says it all) here

I have read that fermenting them first helps with that. I dunno, I’m not really growing them for the food, more for the flowers. If we eat some then fine, if not then ok no big deal.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Gave the hot peppers the first dose of fertilizer. Moved the mixer over to the garden area to get ready for container soil mix.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I’ve ground up and mixed in eggshells in previous years, but this year I’m just breaking them down small and spreading them over the top once everything is planted. I’m less concerned about the calcium levels in the soil, supposedly the sharp pointy edges deter insect pests.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I also read the eggshells mess with worms & worm movement, So I stopped using them 5yr's ago

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I also read the eggshells mess with worms & worm movement, So I stopped using them 5yr's ago

No worries there, I’m a container gardener.

 

[Molpet]

I have been letting eggshells dry a day and smash with a potato masher. I add some to the garden for the last decade or so. I give some to the poultry with Oyster shells available on the side.
One year I had powdery mildew on squash. I ground up shells fine in the food processor. A couple dewy mornings I dusted the leaves. Took care of the mildew

 

[TJAnonymous]

I throw eggshells into the compost all the time. They always disappear...

 

[gtaus]

I do grind eggshells to powder and free choice for my chickens and also put it in my compost bin. I do baked them first. It is a job I do not do often as grinding eggshells to powder is a lot of work. My grinder machine is small, it gets all heat up very quickly.

I do not put much time or effort into my eggshells. I just let them dry out for a few days, put them in an empty bread bad, and then step on it a number of times to crush them to small pieces.

I imagine using a grinder to powder the eggshells would be better to release the calcium, so good for those of you who do the extra work.

That's why I used my single serve blender to grind them up. I know it takes a long time for egg shells to fully compost, although I wasn't aware of it taking possibly centuries to decompose.

Yeah, intact eggshells taking up to centuries surprised me as well. Even if you don't bake and powder your eggshells, you should probably break them up into smaller pieces before tossing them into the compost bin - if you expect any benefit in your lifetime from adding the eggshells to the compost.

I’ve ground up and mixed in eggshells in previous years, but this year I’m just breaking them down small and spreading them over the top once everything is planted. I’m less concerned about the calcium levels in the soil, supposedly the sharp pointy edges deter insect pests.

I don't think the sharp pointy edges will deter all insect pests. I read that it will help to deter crawling pests such as slugs and snails, but not so effective against ants or larger insects.

I also read the eggshells mess with worms & worm movement, So I stopped using them 5yr's ago

I had not considered that possibility. So, I had to ask the Microsoft Copilot AI that question. Turns out it's not much of a concern, so you should be able to use crushed eggshells in your compost or gardens if you want. Here is the response I got from the AI inquiry on eggshells messing with worms and worm movement. I hope it helps.

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Eggshells generally don't interfere with worms or their movement, especially when crushed into small pieces. In fact, worms can benefit from eggshells in composting setups. Here's why:

Worm Interaction with Eggshells:​

1. Calcium Source: Eggshells provide calcium, which supports worm health and aids in the breakdown of organic matter in compost.
2. Grinding Aid: Worms have gizzards (muscular stomachs) that use grit to break down food. Finely crushed eggshells can act as grit to help worms process food more effectively.
3. Size Matters: Large, sharp pieces of eggshells might be mildly inconvenient for worms to maneuver around, but they won't cause harm. Crushing the shells into finer pieces is always a good idea.

Worm Movement:​

Worms are highly adaptable and can easily move through soil or compost, even when eggshells are present. If the eggshells are well-incorporated into the compost or garden bed, they won't pose a barrier or impede worm activity.


So not only are eggshells unlikely to mess with worms, but they can even enhance the environment for them! Let me know if you're setting up a vermicomposting system—I’d be happy to offer more tips.
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Sounds like eggshells are fine with worms and worm movement. Actually, providing many benefits.

I have been letting eggshells dry a day and smash with a potato masher. I add some to the garden for the last decade or so. I give some to the poultry with Oyster shells available on the side.

I have a separate calcium feeder for my chickens. I have dumped crushed eggshells into that feeder, but mostly I just mix my eggshells pieces into the chicken scratch that I toss into the chicken run in the morning. In any case, if you can get the chickens to eat some of those eggshells, that would be the faster way to get the calcium to breakdown.

One year I had powdery mildew on squash. I ground up shells fine in the food processor. A couple dewy mornings I dusted the leaves. Took care of the mildew

That is interesting. I am glad it worked for you. That is not one of the crushed eggshell benefits that is mentioned in the articles I have read. Maybe you are on to something new?

Thanks for all the great responses to using eggshells for the chickens and/or gardening. I think eggshells can be a great benefit ot the health of both your chickens and garden soil. Don't toss them into the garbage. Recycle them at home and enjoy the benefits.

 

[gtaus]

I throw eggshells into the compost all the time. They always disappear...

Crushed eggshells will disappear into compost relatively quickly. However, just because we can't see the eggshells anymore, that does not necessarily mean the calcium is release into the soil. The science behind the process is that the calcium carbonate bond is very stable and dissolves slowly, so the calcium release process could take months or even years. If you powder the eggshells, that will speed up the process. Or, if you can get the chickens to eat some of the eggshells, their digestive system will draw out the calcium and more will be released in their poo.

 

[gtaus]

DIY Liquid Calcium Acetate (Eggshells) Natural Fertilizer

I know some people will process their eggshells with a vinegar solution to make a natural liquid fertilizer. It is supposed to be one of the best ways of breaking down that calcium carbonate bond and making it useable for the plants now. If something like that is interesting to you, I got this info on the process you can do at home.

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Yes, that is true! When eggshells are combined with vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs that breaks down the calcium carbonate in the eggshells and releases calcium into the liquid as calcium acetate. Here's how it works:

1. Chemical Reaction:
   • Eggshells are primarily made of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃).
   • Vinegar is an acid, containing acetic acid (CH₃COOH).
   • When eggshells are soaked in vinegar, the acid reacts with the calcium carbonate to produce carbon dioxide gas (the bubbles you see), water, and soluble calcium acetate.
2. Steps to Extract Calcium:
   • Crush the eggshells to increase surface area.
   • Place them in a container and cover them with vinegar.
   • Let the mixture sit for 24-72 hours, stirring occasionally. You'll notice bubbling as the reaction occurs.
   • Once the bubbling stops, the reaction is complete, and the liquid will contain calcium acetate, which is bioavailable to plants.
3. Uses:
   • The calcium-rich liquid can be diluted with water and used as a natural fertilizer for plants, helping improve soil calcium levels and plant growth.

This method is a great way to repurpose eggshells into a nutrient source for gardening! If you'd like detailed instructions or tips for using the liquid fertilizer, let me know.

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I have read about this DIY process for eggshells into natural liquid fertilizer for a few years. I personally have never done it. If anyone has used this process to make liquid fertilizer, please let us know if it was worth the time and effort compared to just tossing crushed eggshells into the chicken run for the chickens to eat at will. Thanks.