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Post by desertwoman on May 5, 2021 18:27:41 GMT -5
Since powdered milk is so expensive I had a thought run across this ol 'brain. What if we ground egg shells into a powder, in the magic bullet (or the like) ,and used that for the calcium? I've started saving egg shells , separately from the compost bucket, and will give it a try- unless anyone has some thoughts on why that wouldn't be a good idea.
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Post by emmsmommy on May 5, 2021 18:34:58 GMT -5
desertwoman, I used crushed eggshells last year and it seemed to work okay. I did pick up some antacid calcium tablets later and used them as well.
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Post by Wheelgarden on May 5, 2021 18:43:22 GMT -5
I used to do that with eggshells, and had a little dedicated coffee grinder for that purpose...worked well with no problems. I currently use ground calcium tablets in place of powdered milk, but the only problem I could imagine from using eggshells would be raising soil pH a bit. Shouldn't matter in the mix. Go for it.
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Post by centralilrookie on May 27, 2021 21:27:26 GMT -5
A couple of weeks ago I mixed up approximately 3 gallons of Mumsey’s mix. Did all the newly planted tomatoes and should have plenty for the peppers when they are ready to go in the ground.
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Post by emmsmommy on May 13, 2022 5:07:53 GMT -5
Just finished mixing up a batch of Mumsey's Mix. Ran out of cornmeal but should have enough to at least get the tomatoes planted.
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Post by binnylou on May 13, 2022 8:10:41 GMT -5
emmsmommy, I’m suggesting that you put out a test tomato or two…pick your poorest plants, just in case they don’t survive the night. Critters love mumsey mix, especially those short, four legged critters…the ones who wear a Zorro like mask.
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Post by desertwoman on May 13, 2022 9:22:41 GMT -5
My experience was that my plants got pull up but not eaten. The critters were going for Mummy's Mix, not the plants themselves. I replanted in the morning and after the second night of a repeat performance I built a temporary cage around and over the top of them , with chicken wire. Because the plants were small, it was easy to do. That did the trick.
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Post by emmsmommy on May 13, 2022 16:05:48 GMT -5
binnylou, I used eggshells and calcium tablets instead of the powdered milk. I actually had to resort to using the powdered milk a few times over the winter and not wanting to sacrifice it. Haven't spied the raccoon in a while but not wanting to take that chance either. Has anyone else had difficulty finding regular cornmeal? One particular store seems to only carry cornmeal mix but I did find some at another. I think I had the same problem last year.
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Post by Mumsey on May 13, 2022 17:09:14 GMT -5
Try Amazon. Otherwise Quaker makes it and it’s in a round container.
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Post by desertwoman on May 30, 2022 22:52:54 GMT -5
I ground egg shells into a powder (in the Nutri Bullet)in place of the powdered milk, for the Mumsey's Mix I made today. We don't eat or use a lot of eggs (maybe a dozen or slightly more, every 2 weeks) and some went into the compost pile but this is from shells I've been saving since last June. I got just about 7 cups of powder that weighed 3 1/2 pounds
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Feb 21, 2023 17:20:17 GMT -5
desertwoman, emmsmommy, Wheelgarden, centralilrookie, binnylou, Mumsey, , I wonder if you could use this to add to soil when starting seeds inside to keep fungus gnats at bay. S far this year I have none... but if I did whether eggshell powder would reduce them. I fear when I start fertilizing they will come.
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Post by binnylou on Feb 21, 2023 17:34:52 GMT -5
I only use Mumseys Mix in the bottom of the planting hole…out in the garden.
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Post by gardendmpls on Feb 21, 2023 18:10:36 GMT -5
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Post by pepperhead212 on Feb 21, 2023 18:57:58 GMT -5
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Post by desertwoman on Feb 21, 2023 19:03:28 GMT -5
I've never tried ground eggshells for that lilolpeapicker , BT and yellow sticky traps are effective for gnats , and Safer makes a spray "Yard and Garden' and another Safer is '3 in 1' (I haven't used this one)-both OMRI approved. Also as a preventative, be sure to water from the bottom so the top of the soil doesn't stay too wet.
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