Coffee grounds have a lot of beneficial effects when added to your soil in the vegetable garden. Some of the benefits include:
1) USING COFFEE GROUNDS AS FERTILIZER TO FEED VEGETABLES
This is a less expensive way to add nutrients to your soil. This proceed can be carried out by mixing the coffee grounds with the topsoil to make a potting mixture. Then sprinkle it on top of your soil.
Ensure that the layer of your fertilizer is not thicker than half an inch. Mix the coffee fertilizer with the top layer of your flower bed with the help of a rake or fork.
Another way of making an excellent fertilizer is by mixing the leftover coffee grounds with eggshells. This method gives a rich fertilizer for the healthy growth of the plants.
Related: What To Do With Coffee Grounds? Learn About Their Uses
2) COFFEE GROUNDS AS PESTICIDES OR INSECTICIDES
Pests are one of the major challenges of plants. Commercial pesticides always contain chemicals that might not be suitable for your plants as well as individual health. Coffee grounds help in repelling ants and slugs away from your plants.
3) COFFEE GROUNDS AS SOIL AMENDMENT
To do this, add half an inch layer of moist coffee grounds on the top of the soil. Proceed to spread the layer of coffee grounds after which you make an addition of nitrogen fertilizer so that there will be an increase in the decomposition of coffee grounds thus, providing more nutrients to the plants.
The mixture of coffee grounds and fertilizers can be carried out by using a shovel or pitchfork. Ensure that the coffee grounds are not carelessly left on the top of the soil so as not to create water blockage and difficulty in water absorbance of the soil.
Related: Find out plants that love coffee grounds here
4) COFFEE GROUNDS USAGE TO SURPASS FUNGAL DISEASE
Certain fungal diseases such as lithium, fusarium, and sclerotinia can destroy your Vegetables. The addition of coffee grounds for compost helps in preventing fungal diseases spread in your Vegetable garden. The black material present in your soil will aid in affecting harmful bugs such as Staphylococcus and E.Coli.
5) COFFEE GROUNDS AS COMPOST TO FEED VEGETABLES
Coffee grounds can be added to your compost pile being a good source of nitrogen. Green material including grass clippings and vegetable peel contains a high amount of nitrogen while brown material including paper, leaves, eggshells, and cardboard serves as a good source of carbon. To get the best quality of compost for your garden soil, mix one-third of fresh grass, one-third of leaves, and one-third of leftover coffee together.
Tip: Learn How To Use And Avoid Too Much Coffee Grounds In Compost
6) COFFEE GROUNDS CAN BE USED TO MULCH VEGETABLE GARDEN
Mulching a vegetable garden with coffee grounds is less or not difficult at all although it can have disastrous effects on the plants if not properly used. Coffee grounds contain caffeine which can suppress plants’ growth.
Another hazard of using coffee grounds as mulch is the presence of very fine particles which resist water penetration and can also increase the pH level of the soil.
To use coffee grounds as mulch, spread half an inch on top of the soil after which you can make an addition of another layer of mulch of organic material such as wood chips. There will be an increase in the nitrogen and temperature of the soil which will help in the faster development of the seeds and the third germination will become easier.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helps understand how to use coffee grounds in the vegetable garden. I would like to hear from you. Let me know if you have any questions about using coffee grounds in the vegetable garden.
