How can sugar and oats supercharge your vegetables?

Do you dream of juicy tomatoes reminiscent of an Italian garden or plump peppers like those from Spain? You can achieve this with a homemade fertilizer from two common kitchen items, acting as a vitamin bomb for your crops.

As May begins, so does the planting season for tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Properly nourishing the plants and ensuring the soil is in optimal condition is key to securing abundant, healthy, and juicy harvests.

Before using chemical fertilizers from the store, try a homemade and versatile option for your tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. This requires two items you're almost guaranteed to have in your kitchen.

This homemade fertilizer does more than feed your seedlings. It also enhances the soil's structure. Oat flakes are key here, and they are recommended by dietitians for breakfast and by gardeners and greenhouse crop growers for fertilizing. They're packed with nutritious minerals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Additionally, oat flakes help improve the soil's condition, which is crucial for the healthy growth of vegetables.

To activate the natural fertilizer, sugar is necessary. It energizes the seedlings and stimulates growth, making plants more resilient to stress from transplanting or harsh weather conditions.

The recipe for this homemade fertilizer is straightforward. Begin by grinding a tablespoon of oat flakes, then cover them with a large cup of warm water (about 300 ml or roughly 10 fl oz).

After adding a teaspoon of sugar, stir the mixture and let it sit. After two days, dilute this solution with 3 litres (approximately 0.66 Imperial gallons) of warm water and water the seedlings. How often should you fertilize? Every two weeks is optimal, especially before transplanting, to help protect the plants from wilting.