3 Original Gardening Tips

1. Eggshells for your Tomatoes

One problem you may encounter when growing tomatoes, which is quite common, is the growth of a black spot at the end of the fruit, which ultimately ends up rotting. This non-parasitic disease is called apical necrosis. You can certainly save the rest of the fruit that remains intact, but picking an imperfect tomato is still disappointing, especially after waiting weeks and hoping for a virtuous harvest! Apical necrosis occurs when the fruit cannot absorb all the calcium it needs. It can be caused by a variety of factors such as soil temperature, irregular or heavy rainfall, too much nitrogen, etc. Eggshells contain a high amount of calcium and they can help counter this end-rot parasite. However, you absolutely need to follow a precise method! First, gather a few previously rinsed eggshells. Then, using a blender, mix the eggshells to create a very fine powder. Be careful not to breathe the powder. So after removing the lid off your blender, hold your breath and take a step back to let the dust settle. Breathing eggshell dust is bad for your lungs. Finally, spread a handful of powder in your tomato plant hole. The remaining powder can be kept for later.

2. Banana Peel Fertilizer

Banana peel compost tea is simple to produce. Keep a pitcher of water in your fridge about 3/4 full. Whenever you eat a banana, drop the peel into the pitcher. Keep up this process until the container is full (or after about a week). Then strain the liquid into a new container. This tea is nutrient rich because the liquid has been slowly leeching potassium, phosphorus and nutrients out of the peels. In this form it is too concentrated, so you need to dilute it before putting it in your garden. One cup of tea per gallon of water should do the trick. Apply to the base of your garden plants and watch them thrive.

3. The Incredible Properties of Cinnamon

Cinnamon has several antifungal and restorative properties for plants. In fact, by sprinkling cinnamon on your garden, it helps to control the possible growth of unwanted mushrooms. This trick is not at all harmful to your plants!

Also, an excessive clearing of your plants or a mistake in weeding could create injuries to the plants. To repair wounds, sprinkle cinnamon on the wounds to promote healing, regrowth and prevent fungal infection. Cinnamon can also be an excellent agent to keep small furry beasts away! It will irritate the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, without causing permanent damage, but will discourage them from visiting your garden again! Sprinkling cinnamon on your garden will also keep insects such as mosquitoes away. You can mix cinnamon with water, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it on your garden.

Extra tips:

Choose a planter box or raised garden bed kits with cedar.  Treated wood is harmful to plants: vegetables or fruits can absorb the chemicals found in this type of wood which can be bad for our health. Read more on why do we include cedar on our products from our blog.