Ah, the garlic! Many of us remove the skin before cooking. And some of us even go so far as to use tricks to get it off quickly.
But after peeling and cutting, we often throw their skins in the trash without breaking our heads too much! What if we told you that you could do something useful with it, especially if you have a garden? Yes, you heard us right: don’t throw away your garlic skins! In this article, we’ll show you how to use them in an environmentally friendly way. So, keep them handy, here we go! Have you ever thought about giving garlic skins a second life? If the answer is no, you will be surprised how beneficial these vegetable plants can be for your garden! In this article, we reveal all the zero-waste tips to get the most out of these little wonders.
Is garlic good for plants?
Garlic skins are rich in vitamins C, K, and E, as well as antioxidants. But did you know they can also do wonders for your garden? With their fertilizing potential and ability to repel pests, you won’t want to throw them away!
Why keep the garlic skin and leave it for other uses? The benefits of garlic skins for the garden
Garlic skin is a treasure trove of vitamins useful for the garden. So why not use it to fertilize your plants? In fact, you can make it a natural and effective fertilizer by simply adding it to your homemade compost, or you can protect your plants from fungal diseases. Ready to give your garden a boost by recycling your garlic scapes? Let’s do it together!
What to do with garlic scapes and how to use them?
You don’t have to buy expensive chemicals to protect your garden, you have everything you need in your kitchen! Plus, this trick allows you to use your food waste for the benefit of your plants!
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Keep aphids and pests away from your roses
You love your magnificent roses, but aphids have infested them? Do not worry, we have something to save them! A simple, natural and most importantly, free solution to get rid of these little unwanted insects: Garlic scapes! The latter are, in fact, an excellent homemade repellent against garden pests, including aphids. All you have to do is sprinkle a few garlic scapes around your beautiful roses, and the repulsive smell of garlic will drive them away in no time!
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Prepare an infusion of garlic peels to protect your plants
If you have a garden or greenhouse, save your garlic skins! Create a natural decoction to protect your plants! Garlic is indeed nature’s treasure, as it has antifungal and antiparasitic properties that can help fight many garden diseases. This infusion is particularly effective in preventing powdery mildew, rust, aphids and monilia. To do this, perform the following steps:
- Boil ¼ lb. of garlic peel in a quart of water for 30 minutes.
- Leave to cool for a few minutes.
- Then strain and spray the mixture on the leaves and on the base of your plants.
- Add garlic peels to your compost to make a natural fertilizer.
To use garlic peels as fertilizer, you have two options: The first is to add them in small amounts to your compost. The second option is to make a garlic slurry by macerating ¼ lb. of peels in a quart of rainwater for 24 hours and then filtering the mixture. All you need to do is spray the liquid on your plants every 15 days to improve their growth.
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Protect your carrot crops
Did you know that garlic manure is a great way to protect your carrots from mold? Instead of wasting your precious garlic cloves, you can use the peels, stems, roots and inflorescences to prepare this useful solution for your plants. In addition, it is also possible to extend the shelf life of your fall crops by using garlic skins.
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Control wireworms and potato beetles
Only those with green thumbs know this! Garlic cloves are a great help in protecting potato plants from the ravages of wireworms. By adding a handful of these little wonders under the root when transplanting or planting seedlings, you can greatly reduce the risk of infestation and improve the health of your plants. This natural trick is easy to implement and can make all the difference in a healthy and bountiful harvest!
So, dear readers, instead of throwing your garlic scapes in the trash, why not use them to feed your plants and take care of your garden? It is a natural, economical and ecological solution!