Grab these items from your kitchen and use them in your garden!

Although there is a knack to growing plants effectively, gardening doesn't always have to be scientific and precise. You don't always need to buy expensive chemicals and gadgets to reap the benefits of a successful harvest. Sometimes simple solutions lie in unexpected places, such as the kitchen.
Fixing problems in your garden doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. These nine simple kitchen items will quickly prove their worth in your garden and make you reach for unconventional solutions instead of spending money at the store.
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1. Cinnamon on seedlings
Moist conditions can trigger fungal growth on plants, especially new seedlings. Fungal growth, in turn, can cause "damping off" — a condition the University of Minnesota Extension notes can quickly spread and eradicate an entire tray or stand or sensitive seedlings if not prevented — and threaten all the plants. Prevent the spread of fungal infections by sprinkling cinnamon on the plants.
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2. Honey to propagate
Instead of spending money on fancy rooting powders, use honey instead. Mix 1 tablespoon of raw honey in 2 cups of boiling water and allow to cool. Dip cuttings into the rooting mixture and plant into potting soil.
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3. Vinegar as a weed killer
The acetic acid found in vinegar is a natural herbicide, and it works by drawing water out of the leaves. Pour it directly on nuisance plants, making sure to avoid the plants you'd like to keep. This works best on sunny, hot days.
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4. Tea bags to retain water
In areas prone to drier climates, it's important to retain as much moisture in the soil for as long as possible. To do this naturally, bury used tea bags around the roots of drought sensitive plants instead of purchasing expensive products. You'll get similar results at a fraction of the cost.
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5. Milk to reduce blossom end rot
Blossom end rot is caused in tomato plants when the plant cannot get enough calcium from the soil. This can be caused by a couple of different factors, but if a calcium deficiency causes blossom end rot in your tomatoes, dilute milk to a 1:1 concentration with water and apply to the soil around the base of plants. The calcium boost will help to correct the deficiency.
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6. Cooking water as fertilizer
Repurpose the water you used to cook vegetables instead of dumping it down the drain. When it cools, water plants in the garden, reducing overall water consumption and adding vital nutrients extracted from the cooking process.
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7. Egg shells as planting containers
After cracking open eggs to make breakfast, wash the empty shells out well and allow them to dry. Poke a drainage hole in the bottom and use the empty shells to plant seedlings in. When the time comes to transplant to the garde, crack the shells slightly and gently place the entire shell into the soil, packing soil around it. As the shell breaks down it will act as a natural barrier for insects such as slugs and snails while simultaneously adding essential calcium to the soil.
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8. Insulate tomatoes with plastic wrap
Tomato plants are one of the first things to be planted in many gardens because of the length of time it takes to reach maturity. This often means tender seedlings or plants are susceptible to early season bouts of cold weather or even nighttime frost. Protect plants from chilly weather by wrapping support cages with plastic wrap instead of spending the money on hothouses.
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9. Citrus peels to bait slugs
Slugs and snails are perfectly suited to hang out in the compost pile, aiding in the breakdown process. When they turn their attention to your tasty plants and fruits/veggies, however, they can quickly turn the harvest to mush. Scatter citrus rinds or peels throughout the garden where you want a pest-free zone. As the sun begins to warm the soil, slugs and snails will retreat to the moist underside of the bait, allowing you to pick up the "trap" and relocate them safely to the compost pile.
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