Instead of throwing them away, certain food scraps can be repurposed to enhance soil health in your garden. This not only enriches the soil but also reduces household waste and helps protect the environment.

According to gardening and composting experts, some common kitchen waste like fruit peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds can be reused to nourish plants and improve soil quality. However, not all food scraps are beneficial—meat and dairy products can attract pests and create harmful bacteria.

Here are five of the best food scraps to use in your garden:

1. Eggshells

Eggshells are a great source of calcium, essential for healthy plant growth and preventing blossom-end rot in tomatoes. To use them, crush the shells into small pieces and sprinkle them over the soil. Additionally, clean eggshells can serve as biodegradable seed-starting containers for young plants.

2. Citrus Peels (Orange, Lemon, etc.)

Citrus peels, such as orange and lemon rinds, contain nitrogen and other nutrients that benefit the soil. As they break down, they release essential nutrients, making them far more useful in the garden than in a landfill. Plus, their strong scent naturally repels pests like ants and aphids, helping to protect your plants.

3. Banana Peels

Banana peels are packed with potassium, calcium, and magnesium—key nutrients that support plant growth. Potassium strengthens plants, calcium aids root development, and magnesium is essential for photosynthesis. Simply chop banana peels into small pieces and bury them in the soil around your plants.

4. Vegetable Scraps

If you cook with vegetables, don’t toss the leftover bits! Potato peels, carrot skins, cucumber scraps, and extra leafy greens from celery, lettuce, or herbs decompose quickly and provide essential potassium and phosphorus for plants. To use them, dig a shallow trench and bury the scraps in the soil or add them to a compost pile for an all-natural fertilizer.

5. Coffee Grounds

Used coffee grounds are another excellent addition to the garden, providing nitrogen to boost soil fertility. You can sprinkle them around the base of plants and lightly mix them into the mulch to prevent clumping. While some believe coffee grounds are acidic, they are actually pH neutral, making them suitable for most plants—except for a few that prefer alkaline conditions, such as Mediterranean herbs.

A Simple Way to Garden Sustainably

By reusing food scraps in your garden, you can improve soil quality while reducing household waste. This eco-friendly practice helps create a greener, more sustainable garden, allowing you to make the most of natural resources right at home.