Using eggshells in the garden - Ask Extension
Do you have to boil or bake the eggshells and remove the membrane before using them in the garden or can you put fresh raw eggshells in ?
Knowledgebase
Using eggshells in the garden #730719
Asked October 15, 2020, 11:19 AM EDT
Do you have to boil or bake the eggshells and remove the membrane before using them in the garden or can you put fresh raw eggshells in ?
County Michigan
Expert Response
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2018-03-28-using-eggshells-garden-and-compost
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/adding_eggshells_to_compost
Thank you for your question. I presume you are thinking to increase calcium in your garden, though you don't specify this. You also don't specify if you are composting or adding eggshells directly to the garden so I will discuss both and have pasted two links above for further reading.
Egg shells have been added to gardens for years and may be helpful to help with calcium deficiency. Egg shells that are very finely ground (a coffee grinder or food processor can do this task quickly) will break down faster and make their nutrients available more quickly. Dry egg shells without the membrane will also grind better than fresh, wet ones. Large pieces will eventually break down, but will obviously take longer.
As you are likely aware, raw eggs can contain salmonella, but thorough cooking will remove this risk. That said, a few eggs added to a comparatively large amount of garden soil is highly unlikely to lead to any health problems. If you are concerned, you can certainly cook them first or simply let the egg shells dry for several days before adding to your garden or compost.
Another option mentioned in the Illinois Extension article at the above link is to boil 10-20 egg shells then let the shells steep in the water overnight creating a sort of calcium tea that can be applied to plants.
I hope this answers your question and maybe gives you some other ideas.
Good luck!
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/adding_eggshells_to_compost
Thank you for your question. I presume you are thinking to increase calcium in your garden, though you don't specify this. You also don't specify if you are composting or adding eggshells directly to the garden so I will discuss both and have pasted two links above for further reading.
Egg shells have been added to gardens for years and may be helpful to help with calcium deficiency. Egg shells that are very finely ground (a coffee grinder or food processor can do this task quickly) will break down faster and make their nutrients available more quickly. Dry egg shells without the membrane will also grind better than fresh, wet ones. Large pieces will eventually break down, but will obviously take longer.
As you are likely aware, raw eggs can contain salmonella, but thorough cooking will remove this risk. That said, a few eggs added to a comparatively large amount of garden soil is highly unlikely to lead to any health problems. If you are concerned, you can certainly cook them first or simply let the egg shells dry for several days before adding to your garden or compost.
Another option mentioned in the Illinois Extension article at the above link is to boil 10-20 egg shells then let the shells steep in the water overnight creating a sort of calcium tea that can be applied to plants.
I hope this answers your question and maybe gives you some other ideas.
Good luck!
