Make Liquid Fertilizer From Kitchen Waste
Have you ever heard the saying that “one man’s junk is another man’s Treasure”? but what if I tell you that your junk can also become your treasure. This saying is so true even when it comes to taking care of our gardens, we can reuse kitchen scraps (Vegetables and Fruits) to grow and maintain healthy plants.
Kitchen scraps are a gardener’s Gold Mine and have been used for some time now to achieve the desired results, why trash the gold when it has so many benefits. Reusing kitchen scraps can save us a few bucks that can become big bucks over time, by reusing kitchen scraps we are helping to keep our soil and water table free from contamination while providing nutrients the safe way. Sound interesting then continue reading and find out how to use vegetable peels plus more in your garden.
Liquify Vegetable Peel As Fertilizer
For the best results (faster decomposition) cut the vegetable peels into smaller pieces, place these pieces into half a bucket of water. Note the number of kitchen scraps should equal the amount of water, With a long stick, a tree branch, or limb being to mix the vegetable pieces well in the water. Once mixed cover the top of the bucket completely. This will help in speeding up the process of breaking down the vegetable peels.
Every other day remove the lid, give this solution a good stir and return the lid again, the bucket should be kept outside in a secure area from children and pets. After 2 days or thereabout you should see some signs of decomposition. After about 8-10 days your vegetable peel fertilizer is ready to use in your garden.
Although this mixture has an unpleasant odor your garden plants will love you for it, before removing the lid give this mixture another stir you may want to put on a face mask.
With the help of a strainer begin to strain this solution into an empty bucket, you will need a pair of gloves and a large cup or bowl for dipping to assist with this process. After straining, the liquid solution should look white or cloudy, now you can begin to apply it to your vegetable garden around the base of the plants in a circular motion. If any solution remains after using return the cover to the bucket to conceal the odor.
Trench For Vegetable Peels
Another way to apply vegetable peels as fertilizers is simply to dig a trench in your garden bed and apply your cut-up vegetable peels followed by covering the trench. This process may take a bit longer (decomposition) but the end result is that your garden plants, as well as soil microbes, will benefit greatly from this method as your garden soil is enriched.
Fruit Peels in the Garden
Fruit peels can be cut into pieces and buried into the soil or those pieces that were cut can be placed into a blender with a half cup of water. Set the blender to liquefy, once the peels are liquified this mixture can be poured around the base of plants for a nutritious drink.
Cooking Water in the Garden
Once you’re done boiling your pasta, veggies, egg or rice don’t trash the gold (boil water) that water that was used to boil your veggies, rice, etc… is filled with nutrients. Let the water cool and then pour it into the soil around your plants.
Eggshells In the Garden
Not only is the water from boiled eggs beneficial for garden plants but eggshells are just as important, once the shells are dried crush them into small pieces and sprinkled them around your garden plants. The jagged edges of the eggshells will help to keep slugs and snails at bay and as those eggshells break down will add calcium to the soil which is important to plant life.
Coffee Grounds in the Garden
Coffee ground contains minerals and will also add nitrogen to the soil, keep slugs at bay, but will attract worms that benefit plants greatly by their casting. Coffee grounds can also be used as a mulch by applying a tin layer however if coffee grounds are applied too heavily will create a barrier that will make it hard for garden soils to absorb water.
Warning
Never use cat or dog feces, meat scraps along with bones is a NO, NO which will encourage rodents and diseases
The benefits of using kitchen scraps
- Better tasting foods
- Saving your hard-earned dollars
- Safeguard against food contamination
- Safeguards against soil and water contamination
- Increase microbial activity
- Reduces food wastage
- Kitchen scraps will enrich the soil the natural way
- Promotes and helps to build healthy soils
- Helps to retain soil moisture
- Aids in suppressing disease and garden pests
The final word on using vegetables as fertilizers
The use of vegetable and fruit peels in the garden can do wonders, this is a safe way to grow foods in your edible garden, going this way is a win, win for both you, your garden plants, and soil microbes as well. Don’t trash the gold use it, make your junk your treasure that’s free but will pay off big-time which I think makes good sense.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
I would never have thought of doing this. We normally just put all our veggie peels into the compost heap and hope for the best. I see putting them in water just speeds up the process some. I am only put off a bit as you say the smell is bad.
I will also be trying your tip of pouring the cooking water into the soil. I never new that the water still contain nutrients that can enrich the soil.
Thanks for a most enlightening article.
There are so many ways to save money when it comes to gardening successfully that will yield great results, wishing you the best of garden success. Have a good day!!
Hi Norman,
Thank you for the very informative article. I really like the idea of going green for the garden by using vegetable compost instead of other (animal) waste. Your instructions were very clear and easy to follow especially for beginners.
With your simple instructions, anyone can try to plant their own vegetable garden, especially those who have a green finger, so to speak. It gives them the courage to try your simple descriptive instructions with confidence.
Hello Dana, I am so happy that I could help, thanks so much for stopping by. This method of supplying garden plants with the requirements they need is that simple but will produce amazing results, all the best to you, and have a good day!!!