A new month is here (March) and for many that means starting a garden.
And if you plan on growing a garden and really want it to grow, don’t
use commercial products that may harm your and your family’s health, use
some food items that you usually throw out.

The Leftover Food Items:
a) Help For Your Plants-
When making eggs, hold onto the eggshells. Ground-up eggshells are rich
in calcium, which strengthens plants’ cell walls, promoting growth and curbing
ailments like root rot. Eggshells are great for all plants, but are especially
beneficial for roses and tomatoes.

b) Homemade Fertilizer-
Save those coffee grounds and use it as fertilizer. Coffee grounds contain
nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous–the 3 top ingredients in fertilizers.
Coffee grounds also attract worms, which deter slugs. Acid-loving plants
like azaleas and rhododendrons are especially big fans of coffee grounds.

c) Leftover Pasta-
Or leftover pasta water. Don’t toss the water from last night’s pasta, use it
to water your veggies. Pasta water is loaded with starch, which veggies use to
store nutrients.
Not a fan of pasta? Use potato or rice water. And make sure it’s salt-free and let
it cool before adding it to your plants.

d) Insect Proof-
If aphids and beetles are a problem in your vegetable or flower garden,
save part of the onion (and the peel) from last night’s salad and place
them in a metal can or pail, fill the can or pail with water and let sit
out in the sun for a day or two.
After that, just pour it on the plants the bugs are drawn to. Insects hate
the smell of onion and make sure to stay away. Pour more water on the
plants every couple of days and especially after a rainstorm.

e) Keep The Pets Out-
Sometimes dogs and cats like to follow their owners out to the garden,
they also like to go to the bathroom in the garden.
If that’s the case, hold onto to citrus peels, and place them
around your garden. This works on cats.
For dogs: You may have to use chili powder, cayenne pepper, or cinnamon.
Sprinkle a little of one or all three spices in the places you don’t want the
dog to tread.
And there’s more: you can also fill a jar with sliced and diced jalapenos
or habaneros, add water and let sit for a few days and sprinkle (or spray it
around the garden). And the spices also work on squirrels and chipmunks.

Sources:
* Farmer’s Almanac- 2021 Edition
* Nicole Gennetta, Master Gardener
* Kyle Tingley, Lawn Care Expert
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