9 Organic Fertilizers You Can Make From Kitchen Scraps

Since the beginning of time, gardeners have been in pursuit of finding the holy, magical fertilizer that would fix all their gardening problems at once. Fortunately or unfortunately, such a fertilizer doesn’t exist.

But, in all seriousness, if the subject of fertilization confuses the life out of you, today, we’ll be making it extremely simple; some might even call it too simple. 

Let’s take a look at some organic fertilizers you can make in the comfort of your home using kitchen scraps and waste you probably throw out every single day. But, first…

Stop Throwing Scraps Away – They’re Gold For Your Garden!

Whenever I see my friends and family throwing away kitchen scraps, my heart just jumps. When I say that stuff is gold for your garden, I truly mean it!

Many kitchen scraps, like fruit peels, eggshells, or teabags, are packed with nutrients that your garden can greatly benefit from. These scraps work especially well for those growing veggies in small areas or pots.

And if you’re into making the most of what you have, here’s a guide on vegetables you can actually regrow from kitchen scraps, it’s simpler than you might think.

Kitchen Scraps You Can Turn Into Organic Fertilizers

1: Banana Peels

Although using banana peels as a fertilizer may sound a little odd, they can actually add tons of useful potassium, phosphorus, and calcium to the soil. 

To use, finely chop your peels and bury them near plants in your garden. You can also soak them in water to create a sort of tea that can give your plants a liquid boost. Banana peels are especially great for tomatoes, peppers, and roses. 

2: Coffee Grounds

While it is true that coffee grounds can sometimes be a little too acidic for the garden, using them strategically and in moderation is key. 

After your morning brew, spread the used grounds out on a tray or a piece of cardboard and let them dry completely. This helps prevent mold and makes them easier to store and apply later on.

Once dried, you can keep them in a sealed container and mix them into your soil or compost as needed. They’ll provide a strong nitrogen and magnesium boost while improving soil texture at the same time.

Just make sure not to overdo it, or else some of your more delicate plants may not react well! Use coffee grounds only for leafy greens, root crops, and acid-loving plants.

If you’re not sure where to use them, here’s a quick guide on how to apply coffee grounds in the garden. You can also check out this list of plants that thrive with coffee grounds and a list of flowers love them too.

3: Crushed Eggshells

Crushed eggshells are super rich in calcium, which can help to prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers. Some gardeners even prefer using them for tomatoes, peppers, and different squash varieties. 

Just don’t throw your eggshells straight from the kitchen into your garden. You need to rinse, dry, and crush them into a fine powder before adding to soil or compost.

If you’re wondering which crops actually benefit the most, here’s a quick list of plants that love eggshells.

4: Vegetable Scraps Broth

As the name suggests, a vegetable scrap broth is made using peels of different vegetables like diced carrot, celery, onion, etc, soaked in water for 24-48 hours. 

Once the broth is ready, strain the mixture and use it to water your plants, giving them a mild but super effective micronutrient boost.

5: Used Tea Leaves (Or Tea Bags If Compostable)

Tea leaves are rich in nitrogen and other trace elements that can be very beneficial for flowers, herbs, and leafy greens. You can add the tea to your compost bin or directly sprinkle it around the base of your plants for a strong nutrient boost. 

6: Onion Skins 

Onion skins are rich in essential nutrients like potassium and phosphorus, making them a potentially good organic fertilizer option. 

Soak the skins in water to make a sort of tea, and water the base of your soil with it. Direct soil application isn’t recommended, as it can end up attracting rot and pests. 

7: Citrus Peels (Used In Compost Tea Only)

Peels of citrus fruits like orange, lime, and tangerine can add tons of beneficial sulfur, magnesium, and phosphorus to the soil. However, you must refrain from throwing these peels directly into the soil, as they require some chopping and soaking in water to make a diluted citrus compost tea.

If you enjoy making these kinds of kitchen-scrap fertilizers, you might also like these tips on using potato peels as a nutrient boost, they’re also surprisingly effective and easy to prepare.

8: Stale Bread Or Cooked Rice (Small Amounts In Compost)

Yeah…even stale bread and cooked rice are garden-friendly if used in the right manner!

Adding small amounts of these organic items into your compost bin can act as a fungal booster, encouraging microbial activity and aiding with quicker breakdown of organic matter.

Again, don’t just throw whole pieces of bread into your compost; chopping into small pieces is ideal for faster nutrient release. Rice is already quite small and grainy, so you can add it directly, but make sure it’s soft and mushy beforehand.

9: Corncobs & Husks

Corncobs and husks can work extremely well as fertilizers if you know what you’re doing. They release carbon and potassium slowly over time and help maintain optimal soil structure in the long run.

To use, cut up and bury your cobs and husk in deep garden beds or compost piles. 

Let’s Conclude

Although a lot of your everyday kitchen scraps are super beneficial in the garden, don’t make the mistake of thinking everything will have the same fertilization effect. You DO NOT want to use anything cooked with oil, salt, or seasoning as a fertilizer.

If you’re looking for more clever ways to reuse what you already have, take a look at these genius gardening hacks that go way beyond compost.

Also, avoid meat, dairy products, and bones (unless it’s bone meal) at all costs! These organic items are not meant to be in your garden and will only spread rot!