Gardening can be expensive, but it doesn’t need to be! There are easy ways to make compost from kitchen scraps.
Common items sitting in your kitchen can easily replace expensive gardening products. By choosing to reuse, repurpose, and recycle in your garden this July, you’ll benefit your plants, support the environment, and save money. Gardeners tend to be quite inventive when it comes to sustainable practices, and if you’re looking to reuse kitchen waste in garden, here are some clever tips and ideas many of us already rely on.
Turn Banana Peels into Natural Fertilizer
Bananas are packed with potassium, calcium, and magnesium, nutrients your soil thrives on. That makes banana peels a fantastic, all-natural fertilizer for both indoor pots and garden beds.
The simplest method is to toss the peels into your compost bin. If you want faster results, cut them into small pieces to speed up the breakdown process.
If you don’t have a compost pile, you can bury the peels directly into the soil near the base of your plants or shrubs. It enriches the soil, supports root strength, and can boost flowering and fruiting.
Another option is to make a homemade liquid fertilizer. Just place the peels in a jar of water, cover it, and let it sit for 48 hours. The result is a nutrient-rich tonic your plants will love.
Turn Onion Peels into a Natural Fertilizer
Don’t let onion peels end up in the trash, as they’re one of the easiest ways to reuse kitchen waste in garden care. Mix them into your compost bin or use them directly as a gentle fertilizer that supports healthy plant growth.
When mixed into the soil, onion skins help improve its structure and water-holding ability. For a quick homemade liquid feed, steep the peels in warm water inside an airtight jar for a couple of days. When the mixture cools down to room temperature, pour it around your houseplants or containers for a nutrient-rich boost.
Reuse Coffee Grounds to Enrich Your Soil
Don’t toss those used coffee grounds; your plants will thank you for saving them. They’re packed with nitrogen, along with a substantial amount of potassium and phosphorus, all essential nutrients for healthy plant growth both indoors and outdoors.
Coffee grounds also help increase soil acidity, making them ideal for acid-loving plants such as Roses, Azaleas, Gardenias, and Hydrangeas. If you’re growing any of these, consider giving them a natural caffeine kick.
You can scatter the used grounds straight onto the soil surface, blend them into your compost, or make a slow-release fertilizer. Just mix two cups of used coffee grounds into five gallons of water, let it sit overnight, and your DIY plant feed is ready to use.
Use Leftover Cooking Water
Instead of pouring pasta or steamed veggie water down the drain, consider giving it a second life in your garden. This leftover water often contains trace minerals and nutrients that can benefit your plants.
Let the water cool completely, then use it to hydrate your indoor or outdoor plants. It is especially beneficial for container plants. Plus, reusing cooking water helps conserve water, making it an easy and eco-conscious habit to adopt.
Use Crushed Eggshells
Eggshells are rich in calcium. They support the development of strong cell walls in plants, promoting overall healthier growth.
Once dried and crushed, eggshells break down easily in the soil. You can mix them into your compost from kitchen scraps or scatter the pieces directly around the base of your plants. It not only feeds the soil but also acts as a natural barrier against slugs and snails.
Add Paper Towels to the Compost Pile
If you use lots of paper towels, you’re not alone. The upside is that used, unbleached paper towels are great for composting, as they contribute carbon, which balances out nitrogen-rich food scraps.
Keep a small container on your kitchen counter to collect them, and toss them into your compost pile along with veggie peels and other organic waste. Mixing in shredded newspaper also helps free up space in your recycling bin while creating a more balanced compost from kitchen scraps.
Save tea leaves
Used tea leaves are a great addition to your garden routine. Whether you mix them into compost or apply them directly to the soil, they offer a natural boost for your plants.
Tea leaves are rich in nitrogen, tannic acid, and essential minerals that help flowers and vegetables grow strong and healthy. Just remove the leaves from the tea bags before composting. If the tea bags are made of natural materials, you can compost them as well.
Crush Nut Shells to Improve Soil Drainage
If you’re a fan of snacking on nuts, don’t let the shells go to waste, as they can be surprisingly helpful in your garden. Dried peanut and walnut shells make excellent mulch, particularly for potted plants.
Because they break down slowly, nutshells are better suited for use as mulch rather than compost. You can also grind them using a blender or crush them by hand, then mix them into your potting soil. It boosts drainage, improves airflow, and adds a touch of organic material to your growing mix.
