Watermelon rind benefits are many, and even after you have finished eating the watermelon, the rind can be composted, providing additional nutrients, moisture, and nitrogen for your compost pile. They are contributing to the final compost and subsequently the garden and plants.
Are watermelon rinds good for soil?
Watermelon rinds are a valuable source of green matter for the compost bin or heap, contributing nitrogen, nutrients, other trace minerals such as phosphorous, and moisture, beneficial to the composting process. The rinds, however, need to be chopped into smaller bits for them to compost completely and more quickly.
What do you do with watermelon rinds outside?
There’s one part of this fruit you’re probably ignoring (but shouldn’t be): the rind!
5 Smart Uses for Your Watermelon Rind
- Pickle it.
- Make it into a chutney.
- Use it in an Indian curry.
- Make it into a cool gazpacho.
- Candy it.
Can earthworms eat watermelon rind?
Things like vegetable scraps, especially squashes, and non-citrus fruits are fine for composting worms. They’re also very fond of sweet foods like watermelon rinds.
How long do watermelon rinds take to decompose?
It may take on an average of six weeks to a few months for the melon rind to disappear. It depends on the bin and the size of the rind. The rind may take time to decompose than flesh as they are tougher. You may decrease the time to decompose rinds by chopping them into pieces.
How do you fertilize with watermelon rinds?
Just add to the top few inches of soil then water the area. So in one process you make two fertilizers. One can be absorbed by plants almost instantly. The left overs feed your plants slowly but for an extended period of time.
Do deer eat watermelon rinds?
Deer particularly eat watermelons when they are ripe, which can ruin the harvest. They make holes in the watermelon rind and chew the tasty flesh on the inside.
What animals will eat watermelon rind?
Yes, pigs can also enjoy these crunchy parts. Just like rabbits, pigs enjoy tubers, and watermelon rind tastes like a tuber to them.
Do birds eat watermelon rind?
Yes, birds can eat watermelon skin. While the skin of a watermelon is not as nutrient-rich as the fruit itself, it does provide some benefits for birds. For example, the skin contains antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that can improve a bird’s health.
Do chickens eat watermelon rind?
They are perfectly happy if I just cut a melon in half and let them have at it — they’ll eat the flesh, seeds and even the rind! In fact, the entire watermelon plant is edible for your chickens, so once you’ve harvested your crop, let them eat the stalks and leaves as well.
Can I bury watermelon rinds in my garden?
Watermelon rind benefits are many, and even after you have finished eating the watermelon, the rind can be composted, providing additional nutrients, moisture, and nitrogen for your compost pile. They are contributing to the final compost and subsequently the garden and plants.
Do watermelon rinds decompose?
Because the watermelon rinds may be a bit large after you’ve scooped away the tasty fruit inside, leaving the rind as-is in a compost pile means it will take a while for them to break down. Cut the rinds into small bits to allow them to break down more quickly.
Can you put dryer lint in worm compost?
You can also feed your worms lint from your clothes dryer and paper towels (use only paper towels that were used to clean up drink spills and do not have cleaning solution on them).
What should you not put in compost?
DON’T add meat scraps, bones, grease, whole eggs, or dairy products to the compost pile because they decompose slowly, cause odors, and can attract rodents. DON’T add pet feces or spent cat liter to the compost pile. DON’T add diseased plant material or weeds that have gone to seed.
Can dogs eat watermelon rind?
It’s also unwise to give your dog the rind — the hard green outer skin of a watermelon — as ingesting it can cause gastrointestinal distress that triggers vomiting or diarrhea. While the fruit of the watermelon is a healthy snack in small quantities, eating too much of it could also give your dog an upset stomach.
What nutrients do watermelon take out of the soil?
Watermelon plants require different nutrients depending on the plant’s stage of growth. At the initial planting stage, the plants benefit from a nitrogen boost to help develop foliage, but when the vines begin to flower, the plants need less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium to encourage fruiting.
Is watermelon water good for plants?
In its pure state, fruit juice is not good for most plants simply because it is so acidic. As a rule, most plants are happiest in a soil that ranges from a pH of 6.5 to 7, which is slightly acidic to neutral (7 is the neutral midpoint on the 0 to 14 pH scale).
When should I throw away watermelon?
Melons often have discoloration or deformed husks/rinds, this is no reason to discard a melon, slice it and check the inside before throwing it away. Melons that have spoiled often have an unpleasant odor and become extreme soggy and overly soft.
Can you freeze watermelon rind?
Should You Freeze the Rind? You can definitely freeze watermelon rinds, and it’s a great idea since they’re so nutritious. There are a fair amount of things you can do with the rind frozen, and it’s a simple process. All you have to do is put them in a freezer bag, or another airtight container, and store.
Do squirrels eat watermelon rind?
Do Squirrels Eat Watermelon Rinds? Yes, squirrels love nuts, vegetables, and fruit. They will eat almost any variety of fruit, and for watermelons, this includes the rind. The squirrels’ love of fruits and vegetables makes them a farmer’s nightmare.
Do any wild animals eat watermelon rind?
Raccoons and Deer
They may make holes in the rind and scoop or chew some of the inside of the flesh, but they don’t usually consume an entire melon.