Fertilize your garden soil with this kitchen by-product.
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On TikTok, The Frenchie Gardener (@thefrenchiegardener) shared how he uses mozzarella juice, also known as whey, to nourish his soil.
@thefrenchiegardener Don't throw away your mozzarella water 🙌🏼 Reuse it in your garden 🌿 Mozzarella water, also called laticello or whey, contains nutrients as well as milk and you can take advantage of these benefits for your plants and garden. However, always dilute it by mixing 1 part whey with 6 parts water. This dilution is necessary so that whey does not harm your plants, as it often contains salts. In fact, the more organic the mozzarella, the better the quality of the whey! 🌿 Powdery Mildew Whey is acidic and contains milk, making it an excellent fungicide to prevent the spread of powdery mildew. Unpasteurized milk can also be used as a fungicide. Treat affected leaves twice a week. The lower leaves at the base of the zucchini stem are the first to be contaminated and deteriorate quickly anyway, so it is better to cut them off. Remove them from your plants and garden. 🌿 Use as a natural fertilizer. This whey contains minerals, vitamins and nutrients such as nitrogen and calcium. Although in trace amounts, these nutrients are still present. So why throw it away? Dilute it with water and use it on plants that grow best in an acidic pH like tomatoes and basil. Use it in a balanced way in everything (don't use it more than once every two weeks) Green love to you 💚 #mozzarella #organicgardening #reducerecycle #whey #gardeningtips ♬ Green to Blue (Speed Up) – Aurenth
“This water is called laticello, or whey,” he says. “It contains nutrients and antifungal properties, so collect it instead of throwing it away.”
Here are instructions on how to make whey fertilizer from The Frenchie Gardener.
1. In a large bowl or separate container, combine 1 part whey with 6 parts water.
2. If you are spot treating mildew on leaves, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well. Spray on both sides of the affected leaves.
3. If using as fertilizer, pour the mixture into a watering can and water as usual.
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There's no need to buy expensive fertilizers for your garden when you can make your own at home. Food scraps such as coffee grounds, egg shells, and banana and orange peels all work well when mixed into compost or soil.
A healthy garden makes a happier gardener. Rich, nutrient-rich soil means fruits and vegetables will grow and taste better. Home-grown food has also been shown to be fresher, more nutritious, and tastier, according to GardenTech.
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Enjoying the delicious food that comes from your garden is great, but the process is also good for your health: A study by Agrilife at Texas A&M University showed that gardening has several mental health benefits, including reduced anxiety and depression, improved memory and concentration, and increased happiness.
There are physical benefits, too: Gardening is a form of exercise, according to the American Heart Association. Spending just a few hours in your garden each week can help reduce your risk of diseases like diabetes and cancer, ScienceDaily says.
Ready to start growing? Get started with our guide to growing your own food.
What people are saying
The commenter had no idea that their “cheese juice” was an excellent source of nitrogen.
One user asked: “Can I use the whey from making cream cheese, ricotta cheese, etc.? They're all the same, right?”
The answer is yes, this trick will work with any type of whey.
“I didn't know you could use mozzarella water,” said another.
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