Fertilizer from banana peels

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

banana If you eat lots of bananas, like I do, at least at times, you end up with lots of banana peels. Instead of throwing them out or even composting all of them you can turn them into a potassium- and phosphorus-rich fertilizer.

While it is indeed true that, if you compost them, those minerals will find their way into the compost and subsequently to your plants by making this banana fertilizer you can apply the nutrients to the plants directly.

All they then need are matured chicken pellets for nitrogen. No, matured chicken pellets don't come from old chickens, but it is chicken pellets that have rested for at least a year.

Making banana peel fertilizer:

Place a tray in the oven and lay banana peels on it. Place the banana peels on the tray with the outer skin facing down so that they don't stick to the tray.

Leave the tray with the banana peels in the oven when you cook other food. That way you save energy by piggy-backing on your normal oven usage. Don't turn the oven on just to roast the banana peels. Just leave the tray in the oven until you're cooking something else.

Once the banana peels have cooled break them up and store them in an airtight container.

To use the baked banana peels as a fertilizer spread the mulch around houseplants and garden plants. The cooked peels will fertilize the plants as they break down, gently releasing the potassium and phosphorus.

You will need – and this is all rather more than obvious:

Banana peels (add them to the tray as the bananas are eaten)

Tray for the oven & before anyone wonders, yes, you also need an oven.

While, as I have said, it would be possible, and to a degree easier, just adding the banana peels to your compost heap, this way you can create a potassium and phosphorus fertilizer that you can use in addition to your compost.

© 2011