There's a point @Lyn, how long does it take for them to rot down does anyone know please?
Not sure if you mean eggshells @Uff? They take a long time, but get crushed smaller throughout that time. I see them as a nice addition of gritty material and no doubt something useful when they eventually degrade (calcium maybe?) I dont do anything to them before adding them to my compost.
Ah, right, I was expecting them to almost disintegrate, maybe I’ll start using them again, you do have to wash them I think, rats love the smell of off egg.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Ah, right, I was expecting them to almost disintegrate, maybe I’ll start using them again, you do have to wash them I think, rats love the smell of off egg.
Yes, I wash them, let them dry, then crush in a pestle & mortar. It takes about a year to fill a reasonable size jar. Then when I need to, I add it to a compost mix that needs a bit of drainage or a looser structure.
Re. eggshells, do you take off the membrane so that it's just the hard shell layer going in the compost? I've occasionally chucked them in without washing, but I don't use many eggs so I usually forget.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I just chuck 'em in, membrane and all but wow, I feel a bit slovenly now after reading of your dedication @Chris-P-Bacon. There are times when really small grit could be handy so I think it's a good idea too. I might not wash them though.....
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.