Here's why you want to hang a mesh bag of eggshells in your garden

 

🥚 Here's Why You Want to Hang a Mesh Bag of Eggshells in Your Garden

If you're someone who cooks often, chances are you toss your eggshells without a second thought. After all, they’re just waste... right?

Wrong.

Gardeners in the know have a clever little trick that’s as weird as it is effective: they hang a mesh bag of crushed eggshells in their garden — and once you understand why, you’ll never throw another shell away.

Let’s break it down — because this is one of those “why didn’t I do this sooner?” tips that helps both your plants and your kitchen waste habits.

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🧠 The Science Behind It: Why Eggshells Matter

Eggshells are about 95% calcium carbonate, the same stuff that makes up limestone. For plants, calcium is essential — it strengthens cell walls, supports root development, and helps prevent common issues like blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers.

But it gets better: eggshells also add trace minerals like magnesium and phosphorus — all while improving soil structure and aeration when they eventually break down.

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🧺 Why Hang Them in a Mesh Bag?

Crushing eggshells and immediately tossing them into the soil works fine, but hanging them in a mesh bag first has major advantages:

1. They dry out naturally

• Prevents mold and rot.

• Keeps things clean and odor-free.

2. Easy to collect over time

• Just drop your rinsed eggshells into the bag as you use them.

• When you’ve got enough, you can crush them further and apply them all at once.

3. Pest deterrent

• Some gardeners swear the smell of eggshells repels deer and small critters.

• Crushed shells sprinkled around plants can deter slugs and snails (they hate the sharp edges).

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🥄 How to Do It:

1. Rinse your eggshells after cracking them — remove any yolk or egg white residue.

2. Let them air-dry (or just toss them directly into a mesh produce bag).

3. Hang the bag on a garden fence, shed hook, or balcony rail where it gets some airflow.

4. Once full and dry, crush the shells by hand or with a rolling pin, then sprinkle around your plants or mix into your compost.

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🌱 Pro Tip: Add Eggshells to These Plants

Eggshells are especially useful for:

• Tomatoes 🍅

• Peppers 🌶️

• Eggplants 🍆

• Spinach and leafy greens 🥬

• Houseplants (just mix lightly into potting soil)

You can even blend crushed shells into your soil before planting seedlings to give them a nutrient-rich start.

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🧁 Bonus Kitchen Tip: Save Time by Baking

If you're short on time or want to sterilize the shells quickly, bake them at 200°F (95°C) for 10 minutes. This dries them faster and makes them even easier to crush. You can do this whenever you’re already using the oven — zero waste, zero effort.

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🌼 Final Thoughts

Eggshells may seem like kitchen scraps, but they’re actually a secret weapon for your garden — and all you need is a mesh bag and a little patience.

So next time you crack an egg for a recipe, don’t toss the shell. Hang it up, let nature do its thing, and give your plants a boost — all while cutting down on food waste.

Simple. Smart. Sustainable.
And once you try it, you’ll wonder why everyone isn’t doing it.