How often do you put coffee grounds on tomato plants?

Author: Maxine Kreiger PhD  |  Last update: Tuesday, January 13, 2026

How often can I put coffee grounds on my tomato plants? A sprinkling of coffee grounds mixed into the soil before planting tomatoes will not harm the plants. However, no additional coffee grounds should be added to the soil during the growing season.

How often can you fertilize plants with coffee grounds?

A good rule of thumb is to feed and water your plants once a week with a weak coffee solution. They'll appreciate the additional nutrients, as well as the water. And while we're here, let's talk for a minute about those leftover coffee grounds as well.

Do you just sprinkle coffee grounds around plants?

Yes you can. Used coffee grounds act as a slow release nitrogen fertiliser and also help to attract earthworms and cause beneficial microorganisms to thrive. Sprinkled around plants(as a thin mulch layer), can also help to deter snails and slugs, and apparently cats as well.

Which vegetables do not like coffee grounds?

The plants that like coffee grounds include roses, blueberries, azaleas, carrots, radishes, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, cabbage, lilies, and hollies. These are all acid-loving plants that grow best in acidic soil. You'll want to avoid using coffee grounds on plants like tomatoes, clovers, and alfalfa.

Are coffee grounds good for tomatoes and cucumbers?

Adding used coffee ground to cucumber plants will give it a big boost of organic fertilizer and it also keeps bugs out from your garden .. Coffee grounds as a fertilizer can be used when growing vegetable crops such as potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, radishes, and beans #cucumber #coffee #viral.

How to Fertilize Tomato Plants With Coffee Grounds : Garden Space

How often should I put coffee grounds around my tomato plants?

How often can I put coffee grounds on my tomato plants? A sprinkling of coffee grounds mixed into the soil before planting tomatoes will not harm the plants. However, no additional coffee grounds should be added to the soil during the growing season.

What do you sprinkle around tomato plants?

Second when tomatos begin to appear and are about 1 inch in diameter lightly sprinkle baking soda around each plant to make them sweeter. Repeat this process again when tomatoes are about half grown.

Can you put too many coffee grounds in your vegetable garden?

Excess coffee grounds, if applied to the soil before composting, have multiple effects on the soil system. In addition to microorganisms tying up nitrogen temporarily, the caffeine residues in the spent coffee grounds can suppress germination and slow the growth of some plants.

What plants cannot tolerate coffee grounds?

Avoid using coffee grounds on alkaline-loving trees, such as linden, ironwood, red chestnut and arborvitae. Coffee grounds used as mulch or compost inhibit plant growth on geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass. Definitely don't use coffee grounds with these plants.

What bugs are repelled by coffee grounds?

You can use your coffee grounds to repel mosquitos, fruit flies, beetles and other pests. To use coffee grounds as an insect and pest repellent, simply set out bowls of grounds or sprinkle them around outdoor seating areas. You can also keep pests out of your garden by scattering coffee grounds around your plants.

When should you not use coffee grounds in the garden?

For example, avoid adding any caffeine to plants that are germinating. Freshly seeded areas should be avoided as well. Fresh grounds, and caffeine in general, have allelopathic properties. This can stunt plant growth and do more harm than good.

Can I mix coffee grounds and eggshells together for my garden?

Depending on the size of your garden, compile enough of each component to contribute a moderate amount to each hungry plant. Combine the two together, crush the eggshells by hand even more (which should be easier now that they're fully dry), and sprinkle the mixture across the soil bed.

Do plants like fresh or used coffee grounds?

When considering using coffee grounds to fertilize your houseplants, we recommend sticking with used coffee grounds. This is because fresh grounds can be high in acidity and caffeine, which can have a negative impact on your houseplants.

Can I use leftover coffee to water plants?

In some workplaces, the only "watering" plants receive is from emptying leftover coffee into the soil, and they are often struggling. However, using leftover coffee once a week and coffee grounds sparingly is beneficial.

How much coffee grounds for a vegetable garden?

To use the grounds in your garden, incorporate about 1 inch (2.5 cm.) (up to 35 percent grounds to soil ratio) directly into the soil or spread the grounds directly onto the soil and cover with leaves, compost, or bark mulch.

Are egg shells good for plants?

The eggshells provide calcium, potassium and magnesium, which are essential for healthy plant growth! Natural pest deterrent – The sharp edges of the eggshells also act as a natural pest deterrent, helping keep critters away from your plants and protecting the roots.

Do tomatoes like coffee grounds?

Tomatoes thrive in loamy soils with good drainage and high organic matter content. Adding composted coffee grounds to planting beds is a great way to build healthy soil for tomato planting but won't provide all the required nutrients.

What animal hates coffee grounds?

Will coffee grounds keep rabbits away? Sprinkling coffee grounds among your plants may help to ward off rabbits and other small mammals due to coffee's powerful scent.

Do cucumbers like coffee grounds?

Acidic-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and roses will benefit from a sprinkling of coffee grounds around the base of plants. Vegetable crops that may benefit from coffee grounds include carrots, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, and radishes.

Can I just sprinkle coffee grounds on plants?

Coffee grounds can most certainly be added to your compost and also directly to your soil. Instead of simply tossing them out though, you may wish to incorporate them a bit more thoroughly by digging them in.

Do bell pepper plants like coffee grounds?

Bell Peppers: Vulnerable to damping-off disease, it is advisable to avoid using coffee grounds to deter fungal growth. Instead, consider using well-draining soil and proper spacing for optimal plant health.

What plants should you not put coffee grounds around?

Not all plants like coffee grounds because they are slightly acidic, contain caffeine and are nitrogen-rich. Some plants that won't thrive in these conditions include vegetables like Chinese mustard, grasses like Italian ryegrass, rosemary, lavender and flowering plants like geraniums.

What does baking soda do to tomato plants?

The baking soda absorbs into the soil and lowers its acidity levels giving you tomatoes that are more sweet than tart. Although I haven't done this with every plant on my patio, having a few extra sweet nuggets to mix into a fresh tomato salad has been a wonderful discovery!

How do I make my tomato plants happy?

5 Secrets to Growing Amazing Tomatoes (That Actually Work)
  1. Tomatoes love plenty of warmth and sunshine. ...
  2. Plant tomatoes deeply to encourage them to produce roots up their stems. ...
  3. Fish heads make great fertilizer, if you have the stomach for it! ...
  4. Indeterminate tomatoes need strong, tall stakes to keep them up off the ground.

What does Epsom salt do to tomato plants?

Tomatoes are prone to magnesium deficiency later in the growing season, which can show with yellowing leaves and diminished production. Ultra Epsom Salt treatments at the beginning of their planting and throughout their seasonal life can help to prevent and remedy magnesium deficiency in your tomato plants.

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