Banana peels are the thick outer skin of the banana fruit that are often discarded as waste. However, banana peels are chock full of nutrients and can provide a healthy boost to plants. Using banana peels in your garden is an easy way to put this “waste” to good use through composting or by burying or mulching the fresh peels directly into the soil.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about using banana peels in gardening:
- Are banana peels good fertilizer? Yes, banana peels make an excellent fertilizer for plants due to their high potassium and other nutrient content.
- Can you put banana peels directly in soil? Yes, fresh banana peels can be buried or mulched directly into soil around plants. They will compost naturally over time.
- What nutrients are in banana peels? Banana peels are packed with macronutrients plants need like potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.
- Do banana peels acidify soil? No, banana peels have a pH around 5.5-6 which is moderately acidic and will not significantly alter most soil pH.
- Do you need to compost banana peels before using in the garden? No, you can add fresh peels directly to the soil, but composting them first helps the nutrients break down faster.
Banana Peel Nutrients
Banana peels are dense sources of important plant nutrients, which is what makes them so valuable for improving soil quality:
- Potassium – Banana peels contain over 30% of the daily recommended amount of potassium. Potassium regulates vital plant processes and strengthens plants against disease.
- Phosphorus – Phosphorus is vital for root, flower and fruit development in plants. Banana peels contain moderate amounts of this mineral.
- Calcium – This mineral boosts plant cell wall structure and fruit growth. Banana peels are a natural source of calcium for plants.
- Magnesium – Magnesium aids in seed germination, green coloration and fruit yield. Decent levels of magnesium are found in peels.
- Sulfur – This helps form plant proteins and chlorophyll. It is present in low amounts in banana peels.
In addition to these macronutrients, banana peels contain an array of micronutrients or trace minerals like iron, manganese, zinc and copper. The exact nutritional profile can vary based on the soil the banana trees are grown in.
Are Banana Peels Good Fertilizer?
There’s no doubt about it – banana peels make fantastic fertilizer for enriching your soil and feeding plants. Their dense nutrient content provides a slow-release source of minerals that plants can absorb as the peels break down.
You’ll find the most potassium in fresh peels, so use them as soon as possible for the biggest nutritional benefit. The peels continue releasing nutrients as they decompose.
Banana skins are particularly beneficial for fertilizing potassium-loving plants like tomatoes, peppers, roses, fruit trees and anything bearing edible fruits or flowers. The extra potassium can help produce bigger, more abundant fruits and vegetables.
Composting Banana Peels
One suggestion is to fully compost the peels first before adding them to garden beds or potting mixes. This gives the nutrients time to completely break down and prevents any disease risk from raw peels.
Chop or shred the peels into small pieces first so they compost faster. Then add them to an outdoor compost bin or indoor worm composting bin along with other fruit and vegetable scraps.
In a properly managed compost pile, the peels should fully decompose within 2-4 months. Then you can mix the finished compost into your potting mixes or garden beds.
Direct Soil Application
You also have the option of putting fresh banana peels directly into soil around your plants. Bury whole peels an inch or two down or chop them first – both methods work.
This direct soil application lets plants start benefiting from the peels right away as they decompose. It’s an easy fertilizer you can use throughout the growing season.
Mixing the peels a few inches down in the soil prevents them from getting washed away and starts the decomposition process. You may attract animals like dogs or rats if the peels are left on the very top of the soil.
How to Use Banana Peels in Your Garden
Now that you know banana peels are great fertilizer, here are some simple ways to put them to use in your own garden:
Potted Plants
Potted plants love nutrient-dense banana peels! It’s an easy way to create a natural slow-release fertilizer for indoor or outdoor container plants. Just bury some chopped peels an inch down in the potting mix and let them go to work.
Flower Beds & Gardens
In flower and vegetable gardens, peel off a small hole in the soil near each plant and put a whole or chopped banana peel 2-3 inches down. Cover it back up with dirt and let the nutrients seep down to the plant roots.
Compost Pile
As mentioned, you can compost the peels first before using in your garden beds. Turn and stir the compost as it breaks down so the peels decompose evenly into nutrient-rich fertilizer.
Mulch
Chopped banana peels work perfectly as a natural mulch around plants. Spread some shredded peels 1-2 inches thick around the base of plants to suppress weeds and slowly improve the soil.
Banana Peel “Tea”
You can make a quick banana peel tea to use for watering plants! Simply steep some chopped peels in hot water overnight, then strain out the peels and use the nutrient-rich tea to water plants.
Trenches & Holes
Bury whole banana peels 6-12 inches down in long trenches between garden rows or at the bottom of deeper holes for trees and shrubs. The deep peels will compost over time and provide nutrients down where roots grow.
Optimal Uses for Banana Peels
While banana peels can be used on virtually all types of plants, they are especially helpful for certain fruits, vegetables and flowers that need extra potassium for optimal growth and production.
Some specific plants and trees to target with banana peel fertilizer include:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplants
- Lettuce
- Celery
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Corn
- Melons
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Apples
- Stone fruits
- Citrus
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Roses
- Lilacs
- Lavender
Pros of Using Banana Peels for Plants
Adding banana peels to your garden and potted plants provides a wide range of benefits:
- Excellent source of nutrients like potassium, phosphorus and magnesium
- Natural slow-release fertilizer as peels decompose
- Eco-friendly way to use food waste rather than sending to landfill
- Saves money by reducing need for chemical fertilizers
- Easy to apply by burying peels near plants
- Improves soil structure and moisture retention
- May help suppress nematodes and other garden pests
Potential Drawbacks
While banana peels offer huge upside for gardens, there are a couple potential downsides to consider:
- May attract dogs, rats, raccoons, etc. if left on soil surface
- Can spread disease to plants if using peels from diseased bananas
- Releases nutrients slowly over time rather than immediately
As long as you bury the peels under the soil and don’t use peels from rotting or moldy bananas, you can avoid these drawbacks easily.
Are Banana Peels Acidic for Soil?
There is some debate about whether decomposing banana peels will make soil more acidic over time. The peels contain a wide range of micronutrients that can help buffer pH changes.
Most sources estimate the pH of fresh banana peels falls between 5.5 and 6, making them moderately acidic. However, peels contain calcium carbonate which can actually raise pH as it breaks down.
The bottom line is that banana peels are unlikely to cause major soil acidification, especially when used in moderation. They provide far more benefits than potential harm for most gardens.
How Many Banana Peels Per Plant?
A good rule of thumb is 1-2 average-sized banana peels per large plant or smaller bed area, applied every 1-2 months during the growing season.
For potted plants, bury 1⁄2 to 1 whole peel per average 10-inch pot. Reapply a new peel every 2-3 months.
It’s better to start with smaller amounts of peels and increase slowly over time. Excess peels can create too much nutrient runoff and salinity.
What Plants Like Bananas Peels?
Here is a summary of some of the best plants to fertilize with banana peels:
- Tomatoes – The extra potassium results in more abundant, larger tomatoes.
- Peppers – Peels help produce larger, sweeter peppers.
- Basil – Boosts growth and flavor in basil.
- Roses – Leads to larger blooms and fuller rose bushes.
- Fruit trees – Peels improve fruit size and quantity in apples, stone fruits, citrus, etc.
- Berries – Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries benefit from the nutrient boost.
- Flowers – Helps grow bigger flowers and fuller plants for flowers like zinnias, cosmos, lilies, etc.
Most edible crops, flowering plants, trees and herbs respond well to extra feedings with banana peels.
Do Banana Peels Attract Bugs?
Some gardeners express concerns that burying banana peels may attract unwanted pests like bugs, rodents or other animals.
This is mainly an issue if the peels are left sitting on top of the soil where the scent is strongest. Burying them under 2-3 inches of dirt prevents most pests from smelling them.
The main pests possibly drawn to banana peel scent outside include dogs, raccoons, rats, mice, slugs and snails. But keeping the peels buried eliminates attracting most of these.
As the peels decompose, they give off almost no scent to pests. And the benefits the peels provide for your plants far outweigh the small risk of attracting a few minor garden pests.
Conclusion
Banana peels provide a simple, free way to add valuable nutrients like potassium, phosphorus and magnesium to your garden soil. Their dense nutrition content offers a slow-release fertilizer source that most plants thrive on.
While you can compost the peels first, it’s quickest and easiest to simply bury them in the soil around each plant. Target heavy feeding fruits, vegetables and flowers that need extra nutrients to maximize their yields.
Adding chopped banana peels to potting mixes, flower beds, garden rows and around trees provides benefits for most plants. It reduces waste by recycling the peels and can lower your fertilizer costs.
As long as you bury them under a few inches of soil, the peels pose little risk of attracting pests or causing harm to your garden. Instead, they gradually release nutrients right where plant roots can absorb them best.
| Plant | Benefits from Banana Peels |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | More and larger tomatoes |
| Peppers | Bigger, sweeter peppers |
| Lettuce | Faster growth |
| Onions | Bigger bulbs |
| Roses | More blooms, fuller bushes |
| Fruit trees | Improved fruit production |
| Berries | Higher yields |
Give your plants an added boost by working banana peels into your garden! It’s a simple, free way to fertilize plants that will reward you with better growth and production.
