Yes, you can add banana peels in compost and they make a great addition to your pile. They break down into rich organic matter that feeds your soil and plants.
I add banana peels to my compost every week along with other kitchen scraps. At first I just tossed them in whole and waited. Now I know better ways to speed up the process and avoid problems in my pile.
Banana peels give your compost potassium and phosphorus as they rot. These nutrients help your plants grow strong roots and produce lots of flowers and fruit. The peels also add carbon and organic matter that improves your soil texture over time.
Composting fruit scraps works best when you chop them into small pieces first. Cut your banana peels into 1-2 inch (2.5-5 cm) chunks before adding them to the pile. Smaller pieces break down much faster than whole peels tossed in.
Bury your peels under other materials to avoid fruit fly problems. A layer of leaves or shredded paper over your kitchen scraps keeps flies away. I always dig a small hole in my pile and cover peels with brown materials right away.
Balance your banana peels with carbon rich browns. Too many wet peels without enough dry matter makes your pile soggy and smelly. I aim for about three parts browns to each part of fruit scraps in my compost bin.
Some gardeners bury raw peels right in the garden as banana peel fertilizer. This works but has problems I learned about the hard way. Fresh peels attract pests and take months to break down in cold soil.
Composting first gives you better results than direct burial. Your pile heats up and breaks down the peels in weeks instead of months. The finished compost spreads nutrients evenly and feeds your plants right away.
Watch out for pesticide residue on non-organic banana peels. Conventional bananas get sprayed a lot during growing. I rinse my peels before composting or buy organic when I can find them on sale.
Your finished compost with banana peels works great for fruiting plants like tomatoes and peppers. The extra potassium helps them set more fruit and ripen faster. I save my banana-rich compost for these heavy producers.
Start adding your banana peels today and watch your compost improve. They are free, easy to collect, and full of nutrients your garden needs. Every peel you compost is one less thing in the landfill.
Read the full article: Fertilizing Vegetable Garden: Boost Your Harvest
