Even ordinary gardeners understand that to obtain strong seedlings, calcium and other microelements are needed, thanks to which a strong cellular structure develops. Therefore, egg shells have long been used in garden plots, since this environmentally friendly, natural food waste is enriched with chemical elements, including calcium. In the garden, the shell and its derivatives are used as fertilizer, to repel harmful insects, deoxidize the soil, and for other purposes.
In what form are shells useful for seedlings?
It should be noted that the shells of eggs purchased in a store and those grown at home have different structures and differ in the volume of nutrients. The husks of domestic eggs are preferred.
Time to achieve the effect of fertilizing:
- Infusion and solution - after a week.
- Flour - after 1 month.
- Coarse powder – after 2–4 months.
Moreover, the finer the flour, the more nutrients it contains in a quickly digestible form.
How to make flour from shells
Before preparing the flour, the shells are processed, washed and dried.
Preparation algorithm:
- The shells are washed under running water until the remaining protein and yolk are completely removed.
- The useful film is not removed from raw eggs; it is removed from the shells of boiled eggs without delay.
- Paper towels or napkins and cotton cloth are laid out on the table.
- The washed husks are distributed on top and waited until the last drops of liquid have drained.
- Then the shells are placed in paper bags, wooden boxes, cardboard boxes for 3–5 days, until the husks are completely dry.
After drying, the shells are ground into flour using a blender, mortar, rolling pin or coffee grinder.
Store the product in closed jars.
Flour infusions for strong seedlings
Liquid fertilizer made from flour is absorbed faster. Prepare infusions as follows:
- Pour 100 g of eggshell flour with a liter of water.
- Cover with a tight lid.
- Keep for up to 2 weeks in a dark place with regular stirring of the composition.
- When turbidity and an unpleasant odor appear, the fertilizing is considered ready.
- The composition is diluted with water at the rate of 1:3.
- Garden plantings are irrigated.
To prepare an accelerated infusion, a glass of flour is diluted with 3 liters of water. Boil for 2-3 minutes. Add 5 liters of water to the resulting mixture, mix and wait for it to cool. The seedling infusion is ready for use.
Complex fertilizer
You can prepare the fertilizer by baking eggshells in a fire or oven. The baked shells, together with the ash, are rich in calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, which enrich and deoxidize the soil. In addition, baking for 10 minutes at 200 °C will kill all harmful microorganisms from the surface.
Moreover, if the shells are used on site in the form of a loose mass, the composition can be crushed before and after baking.
The second complex supplement is prepared from the following ingredients:
- 100 g shell flour;
- 100 g onion skins;
- 100 g nettle foliage (or nut);
- 50 g dolomite flour (or wood ash);
- liter of boiling water.
Preparation:
- All ingredients are poured with boiling water and mixed.
- Close with a lid and leave for 24 hours.
- Strain before use.
- Add 10 liters of water.
Gardeners call this assortment “Delicacy”. This is actually true. Seedlings actively respond to feeding ingredients that carry the necessary microelements for growth.
Flour to speed up seed germination
To speed up germination, seeds placed in holes are sprinkled with shell flour and earth on top. Water generously. The interaction of calcium with proteins that the seeds are rich in will stimulate germination. And due to a sufficient amount of potassium, the sprouts will acquire a powerful structure.
Experienced gardeners believe that excess calcium in fruits, leaves, and shoots is a more serious problem than its deficiency. Therefore, despite the benefits of egg peel flour, its uncontrolled use in the garden, and even in large quantities, is contraindicated.
In addition, it is not recommended to fertilize garden crops and flowers that prefer acidic soils with flour and other types of egg shells.
