Breathe Magazine

If you’re a fan of gardening this is likely the time of year that you shine. My organic garden is currently growing strong and that’s no thanks to pesticides or herbicides. I shun them because they’re bad for the planet and I don’t want to ingest them. They seep into our water supply and pollute our ground water. What’s more, they cause soil erosion and if you don’t give a hoot about any of those things, they’re also pricey. Instead, why not consider using foods that you already have on hand in the garden? Here’s my list of go-to foods to keep your garden growing.

1. Coffee

Ground coffee is high in nitrogen, making it a very good mulch for vegetables. It’s great for tomatoes because of its ability to suppress late blight. Sprinkle your used coffee grounds in the garden just before a big rain is supposed to come. This is a great way to slowly release some much needed nitrogen into your garden. It’s very nourishing for your soil. To make an organic fertilizer, dilute a half pound of wet coffee grounds in 5 gallons of water and add to a spray bottle. Spray on your newly planted crops for some extra nourishment.

2. Egg Shells

Crushed egg shells add valuable nutrients to soil. Calcium is essential for cell growth in all plants. Calcium is especially important for fast growing plants. Egg shells should be washed before you place them in the compost or into your garden. Make sure you crush the egg shells before you add them to your garden. Egg shells that are not crushed will break down much slower.

3. Banana Peels

Banana peels have been used since the 18th century to protect rose plants. Growers used to put peels in the same hole that was dug for the plant. Potassium helps to ward off some of the diseases that can plague your roses. Banana peels contain many useful nutrients including calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphates, and sodium. What’s more, the peels rot quickly, which means the nutrients are readily available to the plant.