Scrap gardening, also known as no-waste kitchen gardening, is a method of growing vegetables and harvesting specific foods from the leftovers you would usually throw in the compost pile. Begin by preserving food scraps, such as the core of celery and Romaine lettuce. You can also keep the seeds from an orange or a lemon.
Scrap gardening is typically done in the kitchen as opposed to outside. For most indoor scraps, a very sunny spot isn't actually necessary.
Scrap gardening should be considered the pinnacle of recycling techniques to promote sustainability and cut down on food waste. Alternatively, consider it a fascinating experiment with tasty incentives. Above all, scrap gardening is enjoyable, particularly for children. Here is a beginner's guide to help you get started, along with a list of the best meals to try.
Tips And Hacks That Comes Handy In Ultimate Scrap Gardening
Recycle Kitchen Scraps
One of the easiest and greenest gardening tricks is composting. Instead of throwing away coffee grounds, fruit leftovers, and vegetable peelings, start a compost pile or build a compost bin. The organic components decompose, creating nutrient-rich compost that improves the soil's structure and fertility. By recycling garbage, you are naturally boosting your plants without spending any money! Meat, dairy, and processed foods are not used for composting due to the influx of bugs.
Using Egg Shells As Natural Fertiliser
Crushed eggshells can be used to cover the soil around your plants rather than being thrown away. This will enrich the soil with slow-releasing calcium, further discourage pests like slugs, and enhance soil quality.
Create Your Own Newspaper Seedling Pots For Indoor Seeds
Recycle old newspapers to make biodegradable pots instead of buying seed trays from the store. Just wrap a newspaper strip into a cylinder, fold the bottom to form the base, and fill it with soil. You can plant the newspaper pot in the ground and let it organically decay once your seedlings are ready to be transplanted.
Add Grass Clippings To The Mulch
You may keep the soil surrounding your vegetable plants from drying out and weeds from developing by covering your plants with yard clippings rather than store-bought mulch. This method efficiently inhibits the growth of weeds while retaining soil moisture. Just make sure that any clippings have a day or two to dry out before using them, or else you risk having a moist mat that can draw in additional pests from your garden.
Read More: How To Grow Chilli Pepper Plants At Home
Preserve Seeds From Your Crop
Beans, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers can be regrown from harvested fruits. After the vegetables have fully grown and matured, remove the seeds and store them in a cool, dry area. After a few days of fermentation, seed the tomatoes and dry them out for storage.
Used Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds should not be thrown away! They give vegetables—especially leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale—a natural supply of nitrogen. For nutrient-rich garden beds, fold them into your compost pile or mix them straight into the soil. Even better drainage and aeration of the soil are provided by the coffee grounds.
DIY Drip Irrigation System
By building a DIY drip irrigation system out of used plastic bottles, you may save some money on pricey drip irrigation systems. Make a few tiny holes in the bottom of a plastic bottle, bury it next to your veggie plants, and then pour water into it. Your plants will receive temporary nourishment from the water that slowly seeps out. This is quite effective for plants that require a lot of water, like cucumbers and tomatoes.
Planting Companion Plants
Native to the area, companion planting is a free and effective method of protecting your veggies from pests and promoting healthier growth. Certain plants have built-in defences against insects or to draw beneficial pollinators. For instance, basil improves the flavour of tomatoes and deters flies and mosquitoes, while marigolds deter aphids and other harmful insects. Plant health is enhanced by planting marigolds with beans, peppers, or squash and basil with tomatoes.
Rainwater For Gardening
Garden watering is an expensive and time-consuming task, particularly during the dry season. By installing a basic rain barrel system, you may gather some rain for free. During dry seasons, gather rainwater from your roof or gutters and use it to water your vegetable garden. This will ensure that your garden is properly hydrated with fresh, natural rainwater, in addition to saving you money on your water bill.