Club Benefits
Summer is almost here, and it is the ideal time to get planting. If you prefer the taste of fresh, homegrown tomatoes, why not grow your own tomatoes from seeds or in pots? Not only is this natural choice chemical-free, but it’s also a cost-effective way to cut down your grocery bills.
Perhaps the biggest challenge many face is how to get the most out of their crop and increase yield for a bumper harvest. In fact, tomatoes are known to be heavy feeders, needing a substantial amount of nutrients to support healthy growth. These essentials include potassium, zinc, calcium, nitrogen, and phosphorus — all of which can be found in common kitchen scraps that we usually throw out.
I recently found a surprising yet simple way to help your tomato plant flourish, and give it a healthy boost without relying on the usual fertilizers or viral tomato-growing tips. What’s more, this kitchen ingredient is a staple for everyday cooking — so be sure not to throw out your onion peels afterwards. Here’s why.
Article continues belowThe power of onion peels
According to gardening experts, onion peels can be made into a liquid tomato fertilizer to give your plants a healthy boost. Not only can this significantly cut down on the need for synthetic fertilizers, but it also has the potential to enhance the overall health of the soil.
Surprisingly, onion peels contain all the micronutrients that plants need, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium, vitamin C and B6. Research also shows that onion peels can reduce the risk of diseases and pests in some plants. As a result, you can expect a healthy boost for your tomatoes, resulting in a more flavorsome taste. Can’t ask for more than that!
How to make onion peel fertilizer for your tomatoes
There are a few ways to use onion peel scraps on your tomato plants. The most effective method is to make a liquid fertilizer or tomato ‘tea’. Simply put your dried, leftover peels into a container, soak them in one quart of water, and leave for a couple of days.
Next, strain the liquid to separate the peels. After straining, remove the peels and dilute the mixture by adding four parts plain water to every one part onion water. Then you just need to apply the solution directly to the soil. You can use this homemade fertilizer ideally when transplanting seedlings and then every three weeks after.
Alternatively, you can grind the onion peels into a powder and sprinkle directly onto the base soil of your tomato plants. For this, you’ll need to first bake them at 200°F (90°C) until they become brittle, and then grind them in a coffee grinder. Similar to using ground eggshells, the soil will absorb these small pieces faster, giving your tomato plants a healthy boost.
Or if you have excess onion peels or don’t have the time to do those tasks, you can always add your onion scraps to your compost heap, which is a great way to include all the nutrients from onions into your soil.
So if you want to get more out of your tomato plants this season, repurpose your onion scraps for a juicy return.
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