How to make eggshell fertilizer for a bountiful harvest of cucumbers and tomatoes

The value of eggshells as a fertilizer is due to their high content of calcium and other micro- and macroelements necessary for healthy development and good fruiting of garden crops.

The shells can be used to feed potatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, and cauliflower. However, the fertilizer has become most popular as a means of increasing the yield of cucumbers and tomatoes.

The benefits of eggshells for tomatoes and cucumbers

Eggshell fertilizer is used for root feeding. The shells not only nourish plants but also have a beneficial effect on soil quality:

1. Calcium richness. The shell contains a high concentration of the element, and importantly, in a form easily absorbed by plants.
2. Reducing acidity. Both cucumbers and tomatoes require neutral or slightly acidic soil. The advantage of eggshells over liming agents such as chalk or lime is that they are more readily absorbed by the soil.
3. Improving soil structure. Heavy, clayey soils are unsuitable for growing tomatoes and cucumbers. Adding crushed eggshells makes the soil loose and breathable. This effect lasts for several years, as eggshells decompose very slowly.

Valuable elements

In addition to calcium, the shell is a source of other minerals that are beneficial for tomatoes and cucumbers.

Collection and preparation of raw materials

Chicken eggshells aren't the only suitable fertilizer; you can use the shells of any poultry. Quail eggs are considered the most beneficial, as their shells contain the highest concentration of micronutrients.

For the same reason, raw shells are more valuable—the high temperatures during boiling cause some of the nutrients to be lost. However, baking the shells in the oven is recommended—the loss is offset by the increased release of calcium.

When preparing raw materials, consider the size of the planting. To improve the soil quality, approximately 40-50 eggs are needed per square meter of garden bed. However, with proper processing and storage, the shells can retain their beneficial properties for up to a year, so accumulating the required volume is easy.

How to store egg feed

To prevent the shells from spoiling during storage, they must be thoroughly washed and dried. Oven drying is preferable, as it kills bacteria and fungi that can trigger rotting.

Crush the dried shells in a mortar or coffee grinder and place them in a paper bag. Avoid storing them in glass, plastic containers, or plastic bags—these materials are impermeable to air, increasing the risk of mold and spoilage. An unpleasant odor from the powder indicates spoilage.

Eggshell Fertilizer Recipes

Eggshells can be applied to garden crops in dry or liquid form, making an infusion from them. Dry fertilizer is strategic, while infusion is tactical. Liquid fertilizer quickly supplies calcium to plants but does not enrich the soil, while dry eggshells are absorbed more slowly but do saturate the soil with calcium.

1. Dry fertilizer. Crushed eggshells are added to the seedling planting hole or mixed with the soil during digging.
2. Infusion. Pour boiling water over the ground raw material, using a ratio of 1 liter per 10 eggshells, and let it steep for five to seven days. Shake and stir the infusion occasionally to stimulate fermentation. After the infusion has steeped, use the fertilizer diluted with three parts water. Straining the infusion is not necessary.

To reduce soil acidity

Use shell powder, mixing it with the soil. To liming highly acidic soil, approximately 0.5 kg of calcium carbonate is required per 1 m². Therefore, 1.5 kg of the material should be added per 1 m² of garden beds. A chicken eggshell weighs approximately 5 g, meaning approximately 300 eggs will be needed. For very acidic and heavy soils, this amount should be doubled.

However, this amount of fertilizer cannot be applied at once. Liming with eggshells must be done regularly over several years to achieve consistent and high-quality results. It is recommended to perform the procedure twice a year—when digging the beds in the spring and fall. In the first year, apply a total of approximately 250 grams of the product (50 eggs) per square meter.

Mistakes when using fertilizer

Despite its naturalness and benefits, using eggshells as fertilizer has its limitations.

You should not:

1. Exceeding the recommended dosage. Excess calcium in the soil interferes with the absorption of other beneficial elements—potassium, boron, manganese, copper, and zinc.
2. Using fresh or poorly peeled eggshells can attract pests to the plantings. Furthermore, egg whites, when released into the soil, become a breeding ground for bacteria, causing plant diseases.
3. Use large fragments. The finer the fraction of the raw material, the more micronutrients will be available to plants. Ideally, the shells should be ground into powder.
4. Sprinkling fertilizer on top of the soil will slow down the absorption of nutrients.

Using egg fertilizer for cucumbers and tomatoes

For cucumbers, calcium is essential in the early stages of development. Since this element stimulates root and aerial growth and increases resistance to adverse conditions, eggshell feeding is especially beneficial for seedlings and after planting in the ground, during the active growth period.

Fertilizer options for cucumbers

1. To prepare cucumber seedlings for transplanting, water them with liquid fertilizer from the shell 5-7 days before planting in the ground.
2. To improve root growth and green mass accumulation, as well as to help plants adapt after transplantation, 2 teaspoons of shell powder should be placed in the hole for planting seedlings.
3. Since cucumbers don't have a very good germination rate, egg powder can also be used as a germination stimulant. Sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of egg powder before covering them with the growing medium.
4. Cucumber seedlings planted in open ground benefit from mulching with a mixture of compost and eggshells. To do this, apply 500 g of powder per 10 kg of compost.

Tomatoes also require calcium at the beginning of the growing season. Calcium supplementation is also recommended during the ripening period. Tomatoes also require calcium for fruit set, but supplementation is not given during flowering, as the plant uses up previously accumulated reserves.

Fertilizing tomatoes

1. To enhance the seedlings' adaptability and improve shoot and root growth, water them twice with the eggshell infusion before planting. The first time should be at the two-leaf stage, and the second time should be 10 days after transplanting.
2. As with cucumbers, you can add a teaspoon of ground tomato shells to the hole where you plant tomato seedlings. This can also be used to stimulate tomato germination.
3. Instead of dry fertilizer, which is applied during transplantation, young tomatoes can be watered with infusion 9-10 days after planting.
4. During the fruit ripening period, water the tomatoes with 0.5 liters of the infusion per bush. Watering can be repeated after 2-3 weeks.

Calcium deficiency in cucumbers and tomatoes

A calcium deficiency can lead to stunted growth, weakened root systems, damaged tops of tomatoes and cucumbers, and spoilage of the tomato crop.

Calcium deficiency in cucumbers manifests itself in:

• the appearance of a yellow border along the edge of the leaf;
• light stripes on the leaf blade;
• curling of leaves with edges downwards, loss of turgor and necrosis;
• crushing and dark green coloration of young leaves;
• dying off of the tops of shoots, starting from the main stem;
• wrinkling of fruits.

Symptoms of calcium deficiency in tomatoes:

• yellow spots on young leaves;
• darkening of the color of old leaves;
• deformation and drying of leaves;
• dying off of tops;
• accelerated ripening of fruits;
• the appearance of blossom-end rot on fruits.

If signs of calcium deficiency are detected, it's important to quickly supplement the plant with this element. For cucumbers, there's a recipe for an acidified eggshell infusion. To prepare it, add 30-40 grams of the powder to 0.5 liters of water with a teaspoon of vinegar. Let it sit in a dark place for three days, then water the cucumbers without diluting them. This supplement is also effective for magnesium deficiency.

Tips and reviews from gardeners

Julia, 38 years old:

"I use eggshells to lime my garden soil, along with wood ash. Both reduce acidity, and they create an excellent nutrient mixture—the eggshells provide calcium, and the ash provides potassium and phosphorus. It's especially beneficial for tomatoes; the fruits grow noticeably larger. Incidentally, you don't have to bake the eggshells in the oven; you can roast them directly over a fire with the ash."

Anton, 58 years old:

"The shells can be added to the soil along with mineral fertilizers that increase soil acidity. For example, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and colloidal sulfur. They are not recommended for use in acidic soils, but it's not always possible to avoid these fertilizers. The shells compensate for the acidity and are beneficial in their own right."

Victoria, 42 years old:

"The common advice to grow seedlings in shells shouldn't be taken as fertilizer. Large shell fragments remain in the soil so the plants can absorb calcium from them during the current season. Of course, the soil will gradually improve, but not immediately. However, this method of growing seedlings in open ground directly in these "pots" is beneficial because the roots are not damaged during transplantation. Cucumber seedlings have a hard time adapting to a new location, so this method is a good one. The main thing is to remember to crush the shells with your fingers before planting (gently, so as not to damage the roots). Another bonus: large shell fragments will protect the cucumbers from mole crickets, but be sure to wash and dry the shells thoroughly before planting to prevent the development of harmful microflora."

Eggshells are a natural and affordable product for enriching tomatoes, cucumbers, and other garden crops with calcium and micronutrients. Unlike mineral fertilizers (such as calcium nitrate), they improve not only the chemical but also the physical and mechanical properties of the soil, acting as a leavening agent. Using eggshells from domesticated eggs also guarantees the environmental friendliness of the raw materials.