9 Things in Your Kitchen That Double as Fertilizer

You don’t need to buy expensive plant food to keep your garden thriving—just check your kitchen. Everyday scraps and leftovers can give your plants a natural nutrient boost.

From coffee grounds to banana peels, these common kitchen items make excellent, eco-friendly fertilizers.

Coffee Grounds

Used coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, making them ideal for acid-loving plants like tomatoes, roses, and blueberries. Just sprinkle them around your plants or mix into compost.

Banana Peels

Packed with potassium and phosphorus, banana peels help promote flowering and strong root growth. Chop them up and bury in soil near your plants.

Eggshells

Crushed eggshells add calcium to the soil, which helps prevent blossom-end rot in tomatoes and peppers. Rinse, dry, and crush before mixing into the dirt.

Vegetable Cooking Water

The water you use to boil veggies contains leached nutrients. Let it cool and use it to water your plants—just skip the salt!

Tea Bags

Used tea bags (without staples) can be composted or buried in pots to improve soil structure and add nitrogen. Many teas also contain tannins that benefit plant growth.

Used Rice or Pasta Water

Unsalted starchy water from cooked rice or pasta provides trace minerals and helps feed soil microbes. Let it cool before using it to water plants.

Citrus Peels

Citrus peels decompose slowly, releasing nutrients gradually. They also help deter pests. Chop them finely before adding to compost or burying in pots.

Stale Beer

Flat, stale beer contains yeast and carbohydrates that boost soil bacteria. Use it sparingly as a liquid feed for flowers or compost piles.

Onion Skins

Rich in potassium, onion skins can be steeped in water overnight to create a nutrient-rich “tea” for your plants. Strain before pouring at the base.

The next time you clean up after a meal, think twice before tossing scraps. These simple kitchen leftovers can nourish your plants, reduce waste, and save money—all at once.