Can you use juicing pulp in garden?
Juicing has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to get a concentrated dose of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients from fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are full of enzymes and phytonutrients that are important for good health. But what do you do with all that pulp that’s left behind after juicing?
It turns out that the pulp from juicing still contains a lot of beneficial fiber and nutrients. Rather than throwing it away, many gardeners have started using juicing pulp to boost their soil, compost, or worm bins. The pulp adds valuable organic matter and nutrients to benefit plants and soil life.
Nutritional Benefits of Juicing Pulp
Juice pulp contains soluble and insoluble fiber such as pectin, cellulose, and lignin. This indigestible plant fiber provides food for microorganisms in the soil and compost. Although we can’t digest fiber, it nourishes the beneficial bacteria in our digestive systems.
Likewise, bacteria, fungi, worms, and other decomposers can break down and feed on the fiber in juicing pulp. This fiber content makes juicing pulp a valuable soil amendment for improving soil tilth, aeration, and water retention.
In addition to fiber, pulp contains many vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. These include vitamin C, beta carotene, folate, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron. Although juicing extracts some of the nutrients, plenty still remains in the leftover pulp.
Ways to Use Juicing Pulp
There are several easy ways to recycle all that pulp from your juicer:
Compost
Adding juicing pulp to your compost pile is an excellent way to boost nutrition and feed the microorganisms that create rich, organic compost. Pulp adds nitrogen, carbon, moisture, and biomass to the compost. Mix pulp into your compost pile or bin regularly when juicing.
Worm Bin
Vermicomposting with worms is an efficient way to recycle food scraps. Worms appreciate juicing pulp as a nutrient-dense feed. Bury the pulp under the bedding in your worm bin. The worms will gradually break down and digest the pulp.
Soil Conditioner
You can add juicing pulp directly to garden beds as a soil amendment. Simply dig shallow trenches or holes in the soil and bury the pulp. Over time, the pulp will decompose and enrich the soil. Alternately, you can mix pulp into potting mixes to boost nutrition for container plants.
Mulch
Spreading a thin layer of juicing pulp on the soil surface makes an excellent mulch for garden beds. It will smother weeds while slowly improving the soil. For fruit pulp, spread under fruit trees or berries where the plants can reuse the nutrients.
Compost Tea
Steep juicing pulp in water to make a nutritious compost tea or extract. Add a bucket of pulp to a barrel of water and let it sit for a week or two. Stir or agitate the mixture daily. Then use the compost tea to water plants or spray onto leaves as a foliar fertilizer.
Livestock Feed
If you keep chickens, pigs, or other livestock, they can benefit from juicing pulp added to their feed. The fiber and nutrients are good additions to their diet. Just blend or mix the pulp into their normal feed.
Best Plants for Juicing Pulp
Almost any juicing pulp can go back into the garden, but some plants benefit more from certain types of produce waste:
| Produce Pulp | Best Plants to Use For |
|---|---|
| Fruit pulp (apple, berries, citrus, etc.) | Fruit trees, berry bushes |
| Carrot pulp | Root crops like potatoes, beets, carrots |
| Leafy green pulp (kale, spinach, etc.) | Brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, kale |
| Beet pulp | Leafy greens, onions, garlic |
| Tomato pulp | Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant |
Match the nutrient profile of the pulp to the needs of the plants. For example, fruit pulp is high in potassium and phosphorus which fruiting plants need. Leafy green pulp provides nitrogen which leafy plants love. Using produce pulp to grow more of the same type of produce creates a cyclical nutrient cycle in your garden.
Storage and Preservation
Fresh, moist juicing pulp can be used immediately in the garden for best results. However, you may not always have time to use it right away. Here are some methods to store and preserve juicing pulp:
Refrigeration
Place juicing pulp in a sealed container or bag in the refrigerator for 1-2 days until use. This prevents it from drying out or molding before use in the garden.
Freezing
For longer storage, juicing pulp can be frozen for several months. Spread on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw before using in compost or directly in the garden.
Dehydrating
A dehydrator can be used to dry juicing pulp into crispy chips. Dehydrated pulp stores for months in an airtight container. Rehydrate in water before adding to compost or worm bins if desired.
Ensiling
Experimental gardeners have had success with ensiling juicing pulp. Pack pulp tightly into a container, cover, and allow to ferment anaerobically for 1-3 months before use. This preserves nutrients.
Bokashi
Inoculating juicing pulp with bokashi bran allows for fermentation that preserves the pulp for a few weeks until use. Bokashi also adds beneficial microbes to pulp before adding to compost or soil.
Nutrient Balance and Safety
Pay attention to nutrient balance and safety when using juicing pulp in your garden. Too much pulp from certain produce could lead to excess levels of some nutrients.
For example, too much beet pulp can accumulate sodium and lead to salt buildup in soil over time. Large amounts of spinach or beet greens pulp may result in an overabundance of oxalic acid.
Moderation is key, vary the types of produce pulp you use, and allow plenty of time for nutrients to integrate into your compost or garden soil. An overzealous juice cleanse could overload your system!
Also be aware of the source of your juicing produce. Pulp from conventional produce may contain residual pesticides that end up in your garden. Organic is ideal.
Conclusion
Juicing pulp is a valuable resource that deserves a second life in your garden instead of the trash bin. With its high fiber, nutrient, and biomass content, pulp can boost your compost, nourish soil, and feed plants through natural decomposition.
Explore creative ways to recycle juicing leftovers for rich compost teas, worm bin bedding, mulch, and soil amendments. Follow basic safety guidelines to prevent nutrient imbalances. Reusing pulp closes the loop between your juicing habits and garden soil health.
