8 Kitchen Composting Tips to Boost Your Spring Garden

As spring blossoms into life, it's the perfect time to harness the power of your kitchen scraps to boost gardening. Kitchen composting is one of the best ways to set your garden up for success. It’s like giving your plants a gourmet meal made from waste you’d normally toss. Check out the 8 recommended tips below to turn your kitchen waste into garden gold this spring.

1. Use the Right Scraps

There’s a treasure trove of compostable goodies right in your kitchen. Don’t toss those veggie peels, fruit rinds, and coffee grounds—as they’re packed with nutrients your plants will love. For instance, fruit peels are rich in potassium, which helps plants grow strong roots. Have eggshells lying around? Crush them up for a calcium boost to keep your tomatoes and peppers thriving. 

Avoid meat, dairy, oily foods, and cooked foods. These generally don't belong in a kitchen compost bin, especially if you aim for a quick turnaround.

2. Keep a Compost Bin Nearby

Keeping a small bin or composter near your kitchen will make composting easier. I use a stainless steel one with a filter to minimize odors. I toss in the scraps right after I chop up veggies for a stir-fry or peel an orange—these small habits add up and make a big difference.

3. Balance Greens and Browns

The key to composting success lies in maintaining balance. Kitchen scraps (greens) are full of nitrogen, but they need carbon-rich brown material to break down properly. Think shredded paper, napkins, or cardboard for best results. Aim for a 2:1 ratio of browns to greens, and you will be rewarded with rich compost in no time. 

4. Chop It Up

Give your kitchen waste and veggie peels a quick chop before tossing it in the bin, as smaller scraps break down faster. For example, instead of adding a whole apple core, cut it into chunks for compost. This is like prepping food for the microbes—they’ll work faster and reward you with rich, dark compost. 

5. Worms: The Stars of Composting 

For a truly kitchen-centric approach, consider vermicomposting (worm composting). You can put a worm bin right in your kitchen! Red wigglers are nature’s composting superstars, and they'll happily snack on your kitchen scraps and turn them into nutrient-rich worm castings – an amazing soil amendment that’s ideal for the spring season.

6. Turn Regularly

Whether you use a pitchfork or compost aerator, give your pile a good turn every couple of weeks as they need enough air to thrive. Aim to keep your pile loose to help the microbes grow and do their job. And it’s a good excuse to get outdoors and enjoy the spring weather.

7. Try Compost Tea

Brew some compost tea to give your plants a quick nutrient boost. Steep your finished compost in a bucket of water for a day or two, then use it to water your plants. It’s like a nutrient shot for your garden—perfect for getting your plants off to a strong start this spring.

8. Compost Before Planting

Work your compost into your garden beds before planting. You can mix it into the soil where you want to plant your veggies—think lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, and peas. Adding compost retains moisture, improves soil structure, and provides a steady nutrient supply - so they can start growing for optimal gains.

Final Thoughts

One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to improve your spring garden, kitchen composting  is a win-win: you reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil amendment for your plants. So grab those kitchen scraps and get composting, and be ready for the best spring garden yet!