To prepare eggshells for tomato plants, grind them into a fine consistency that you can sprinkle around the base of your plants.
Here's a more detailed guide:
- Collect Eggshells: Save your eggshells after using the eggs.
- Clean the Eggshells: Rinse the eggshells thoroughly with water to remove any remaining egg residue. This helps prevent attracting pests.
- Dry the Eggshells: Allow the eggshells to dry completely. You can air dry them or speed up the process by placing them in a low-temperature oven (around 200°F or 93°C) for about 10-20 minutes.
- Grind the Eggshells: The video suggests grinding roughly eight eggshells at a time. Use a grinder (like a coffee grinder) to pulverize the dried eggshells into a fine powder. The finer the powder, the easier it is for the tomato plants to absorb the calcium.
- Apply to Tomato Plants: Sprinkle the eggshell powder around the base of your tomato plants. Gently work it into the soil.
Eggshells are primarily used to add calcium to the soil. Calcium helps prevent blossom-end rot, a common problem in tomatoes. While eggshells are a beneficial amendment, they decompose slowly. For quicker results, consider using a faster-acting calcium supplement.
