egg shells and compost

[gwynnethmary]

Hi everyone
I just thought I'd pass on a good tip, even though most people might already be aware of it!
When I first started making compost, I noticed that the egg shells took ages to compost, even when crushed up small.  Then I read that you should pop the shells in the oven and cook them along with the next casserole/ roast meat/crumble.... They compost MUCH faster this way and are more plesannt to crush too (but let them cool first!)

[gwynnethmary]

[artichoke]

I had never heard of that, thanks. All my beds that I've put compost on are covered in eggshells, not very beautiful. In future I'll store them in something heatproof and put in the oven during the weekly bread baking.

[tonybloke]

if you going to do this, make sure you wash them first, or you'll taint the bread.

[Hyacinth]

Rats are attracted to the smell of fresh eggshells, so I've never put them in the compost.

But 'seasoned' (ie well-dried) shells are much more useful than being mixed into a compost heap, for me. I use a lot of eggs and have a large pot which I keep on top of the combi-boiler into which they go throughout the year. As they dry out I crumble them down. Come spring, when I start planting out, I've a good quantity which I use as a top mulch round tender plants against slug damage and sometimes, too, put a handful in the planting hole to (hopefully) deter the underground slugs. They really, really, don't like the sharp surfaces.

Has worked for me.

[gwynnethmary]

sounds like a good application for all those eggshells, Hyacinth!

[Digeroo]

I stopped putting my egg shells in the compost bin.  Something was getting in and spreading them all over the place.  Perhaps baking them will deter the invaders.

[Hyacinth]

.......again, no need to bake them in an oven.....find yourself a nice-looking open pot in your kitchen & throw them in there.... 8)

[shirlton]

My mom used to put them in the microwave and then crush them to deter the slugs

[1066]

.......again, no need to bake them in an oven.....find yourself a nice-looking open pot in your kitchen & throw them in there.... 8)

great so I don't even have to turn the oven on  ;D  Thanks for that tip!

[artichoke]

Do you mean just put them into some wide container to dry out?

Then crush and scatter round eg lettuces?


I have Chinese cabbages that look like carefully constructed lace.......

[1066]

I have Chinese cabbages that look like carefully constructed lace.......

;D  ;D  ;D - but only because that describes to prefection my lace work chinese cabbages, which actually makes me want to cry !

[Hyacinth]

Do you mean just put them into some wide container to dry out?

Then crush and scatter round eg lettuces?


I have Chinese cabbages that look like carefully constructed lace.......

YEP! 8)