Banana Peel as Fertilizer: A Step by Step Guide on How to Do It

Whether you’re living in the city or country, growing your own fruits, veggies, and flowers is a great way to cut down on waste. Take it a step further by using leftover banana peel as fertilizer! So much of our food (and store-bought flowers!) comes in plastic packaging. Plus, about 30% of all food in the US and 32% in the UK goes uneaten and ends up in the trash. By choosing to grow your food and using old banana peels to fertilize it, you’re doing amazing things for the earth. 

 

Why you should use banana peels as fertilizer

 

Potassium is great for humans, and it’s great for plants as well! Banana peels contain 42% potassium, which is one of three main components in fertilizer. The potassium in banana peels can strengthen the stems of plants, while also aiding in fighting off disease. Additionally, it helps to move nutrients and water amongst the cells in a plant. Because of their calcium content, banana peels can help prevent blossom end rot and their manganese improves photosynthesis.

Using a banana peel as fertilizer on plants that fruit and flower, like peppers, tomatoes, or flowers is ideal. This is because the peels don’t contain nitrogen, which can further the growth of leaves but not fruits or berries. For this reason, they’re not as great for things like spinach, Swiss chard, or lettuce.

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Chopped banana peel as fertilizer: 

 

  1. Chop banana peels into smaller chunks – about 1-inch square bits.
  2. Bury the chunks in the dirt near your plants – put them under the mulch but on top of the soil. This works in potted plants as well. 
  3. As they break down, they’ll begin to release nutrients that your plants will then absorb. 

 

Dried banana peel as fertilizer:

 

  1. For indoor potted plants, you may want to dry the banana peel to avoid attracting bugs. 
  2. Chop the banana peel into rough chunks.
  3. Put the banana bits under a strainer in the sun outside. 
  4. Leave the banana peel for a couple of days, until they’ve dried out. You can also dry them in your oven by using low heat for several hours.
  5. Bury the dried banana peel or add it to the center of your plant, then water it. This method practices slow release nutrition – each time it rains or when you water the plant, the dried banana peel will release nutrients. 

 

Banana peel tea as fertilizer: 

 

  1. Add banana peels to a jar or bowl and cover with water. 
  2. Leave for at least a few days (up to two weeks,) allowing the peels to steep in the water and release nutrients.
  3. Add the banana water onto the roots of your plants. 
  4. Bury the remaining peels or put them in your compost – I like this compost bin that and can be kept in your home. 

Next time you eat a banana, be sure to save the peel! Double the use of your banana by using it to provide nutrients to both you and your plants. Have you ever tried to use a banana peel as fertilizer? Let me know how it went in the comments down below!

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