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My Fave Uses For Banana Peel In My Garden: Fertilizer, Pest Control & More

ByHelen Webster Published on

If you’ve ever tossed a banana peel into the trash and felt a pang of guilt, I’ve got some great news for you. Those peels can work wonders in your garden!

What’s often considered waste could actually be the secret to a more lush and vibrant garden.

As a gardener, I’m always on the lookout for eco-friendly and cost-effective ways to boost my plants, and banana peels have become one of my top tricks.

From deterring pests to enriching the soil, the humble banana peel has a surprising number of uses in a garden setting.

Enrich Your Compost with Banana Peels

Tossing banana peels into your compost pile is a great way to improve your garden’s soil. Here’s how these peels can transform your compost dynamics:

banana peel as fertilizer

Accelerating Compost Breakdown

Banana peels are fantastic for speeding up the decomposition process in compost bins.

Their soft, moist texture breaks down quickly, encouraging the activity of compost-friendly bacteria and microorganisms.

To maximize their effectiveness, chop or tear the peels into smaller pieces before adding them to the compost.

This increases the surface area, making it easier for the microorganisms to do their work. Plus, these peels introduce more moisture to the pile, which is essential for the composting process.

Enhancing Nutrient Content

Incorporating banana peels into your compost enriches it with essential nutrients that plants love.

These peels are rich in potassium, an important nutrient that supports overall plant health, flowering, and fruiting.

They contain calcium, which helps in the structural development of plants and prevents blossom end rot in tomatoes and other fruit-bearing plants.

Phosphorus, also found in banana peels, aids in the growth of roots and blooms.

Create Nutrient-Rich Banana Peel Tea For Plants

If you’re a fan of sustainable gardening like I am, you’ll love making banana peel tea. It’s an easy way to boost your plants’ health using just scraps from your kitchen.

banana peel pieces in mason jar for fertilizer

Steps to Prepare Banana Peel Tea

  1. Collect Peels: Start by saving the peels from your bananas. You’ll need about three to four peels for a batch of tea.
  2. Cut the Peels: Chop the peels into smaller pieces to increase their surface area, which helps release nutrients faster.
  3. Jar and Water: Place the chopped peels into a large jar and cover them with water. For a standard-sized jar, about a quart of water should suffice.
  4. Steep: Let the peels steep in the water for about 48 hours. This allows the peels to ferment slightly, releasing potassium and other nutrients into the water.
  5. Strain: After two days, strain the tea to remove all solid pieces, ensuring a smooth liquid fertilizer.

Now that you’ve made it, here’s how to turn it into a liquid fertilizer for your garden.

  1. Dilute the Tea: Banana peel tea is concentrated, so you’ll need to dilute it to prevent nutrient burn. Mix one part banana peel tea with ten parts water.
  2. Apply to Soil: Pour the diluted tea around the base of your plants, focusing on the root areas where nutrients are most absorbed.
  3. Frequency of Application: I recommend using this tea once every four weeks. It provides a regular nutrient boost without the risk of over-fertilization.
  4. Best for: This tea is especially beneficial for flowering plants and fruit-bearing plants, boosting their blossom and fruit production.

Direct Soil Enhancement Techniques

If you’re looking to give your garden a nutritional boost directly through the soil, here are a couple of excellent ways to use those banana peels:

banana peel fertilizer

Burying Banana Peels Near Plant Roots

Burying banana peels near the roots of your plants is a straightforward and effective method to enrich the soil with nutrients.

Chop the peels into small pieces—this helps them decompose quicker—and bury them about 2-4 inches deep in the soil near the roots of your plants.

As the peels break down, they release potassium, phosphorus, and calcium directly into the soil, providing a natural, slow-release fertilizer.

This method is particularly great for potassium-loving plants like tomatoes and roses.

Using Chopped Banana Peels as Mulch

Using dried banana peels as mulch is another smart way to enhance your garden’s soil.

Dry the peels either in the sun or a low-temperature oven, and once they’re crispy, crush them into smaller chips. Spread these dried peel chips around the base of your plants.

Not only do they deter garden pests with their potent smell, but as they decompose, they add essential nutrients back into the soil, improving its quality and fertility.

Plus, this type of mulch helps retain soil moisture, reducing the need for frequent watering.

Natural Pest Control Solutions

Here’s how you can use them to deter pests efficiently.

banana peel on grass

Deter Aphids with Banana Peels

Aphids, those tiny, pesky insects that can wreak havoc on your plants, dislike the scent of banana peels.

Here’s a simple method to ward them off: Chop banana peels into small pieces and bury them 1-2 inches deep around the base of the affected plants.

The odor released by the decomposing banana peels is unappealing to aphids, driving them away from your plants.

This method not only helps in controlling aphids but also gradually releases nutrients into the soil, benefiting your garden’s overall health.

Make a Banana Peel Insect Trap

If you’re dealing with a broader range of insects, creating a banana peel insect trap can be equally effective. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Prepare your trap: Cut a banana peel into small pieces and place them in a plastic container.
  2. Add vinegar: Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar over the peels. The scent of vinegar combined with banana acts as a strong attractant for many insects like gnats and fruit flies.
  3. Set the trap: Cover the container with plastic wrap and poke small holes large enough for insects to enter.
  4. Place strategically: Position the container in a part of the garden where you’ve noticed a high activity of unwanted insects.

This method is particularly useful for capturing and reducing the local insect population without using harmful chemicals, ensuring your garden remains a safe haven for both plants and beneficial insects.

Specialized Garden Uses for Banana Peels

Ferment Peels for Enhanced Flower Blooms

If you’re looking to boost the vibrancy and health of your flower blooms, fermenting banana peels might be the trick you need.

Fermentation helps break down the peels, releasing nutrients like potassium and phosphorus, which are key for the development of stunning blooms. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Collect Peels: Save up banana peels from your kitchen; you’ll need a good amount!
  2. Submerge in Water: Place the peels in a jar and fill it with water, ensuring the peels are fully submerged.
  3. Seal and Store: Close the jar tightly and store it in a cool, dark place for about a week.
  4. Strain and Use: After a week, strain the liquid and dilute it with water in a 1:5 ratio (one part fermented peel liquid to five parts water).
  5. Apply to Your Flowers: Use this solution to water your blooming plants weekly.

This fermented banana peel solution promotes robust growth and vivid flowering, giving your garden that lush, lively look.

Prepare Banana Peel Vinegar for Acid-Loving Plants

Acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries thrive when their soil is slightly acidic.

Banana peel vinegar can help maintain the necessary pH balance while providing essential nutrients. Making your own banana peel vinegar is simple:

  1. Chop Peels: Cut banana peels into small pieces to increase the surface area.
  2. Add to Vinegar: Place the chopped peels into a glass jar and cover them with white vinegar.
  3. Let It Sit: Seal the jar and let the mixture sit for two to three weeks in a dark place. Shake the jar every few days to mix the contents.
  4. Strain and Store: After the mixture has infused, strain out the banana peels and store your banana peel vinegar in the jar.

To use, dilute one part banana peel vinegar with ten parts water for a plant-friendly tonic.

Water your acid-loving plants with this solution to enhance their growth and maintain the soil’s acidity, ensuring they stay healthy and vibrant.

Other Creative Uses for Banana Peels

Polish Plant Leaves with Banana Peels

Banana peels are wonderful for giving your indoor plants a refreshing, natural shine. Simply use the inside of a banana peel to gently wipe the leaves, removing dust and other particles.

This method not only cleans but also deposits small amounts of nutrients directly onto the leaves, which some gardeners say can improve the overall health and luster of the plants.

It’s a chemical-free alternative that makes use of waste that would otherwise be thrown out.

Use as a Bird Feeder

Turning banana peels into a bird feeder is another inventive way to reuse them. Start by cutting the peel into strips and hanging them on a branch or a bird feeder.

These strips are appealing to many bird species, especially during colder months when food is scarce.

The peels provide essential nutrients and can attract a colorful array of birds to your garden, making it more vibrant and lively.