Chances are that if you eat bananas you are throwing away all of those peels. It seems like a natural thing to do. After all, they are nature’s disposable wrappers! But it means that billions are getting wasted each year, and they’re actually amazingly useful.
Banana peels are great for helping fruits, vegetables, and flowers grow. So, the next time you think about throwing away that “wrapper” remember that it’s not just trash. It’s actually a free, abundant, and effective garden helper.
Banana peel nutrients
Potassium – The primary nutrient found in bananas and their peels. It helps with root development as well as promoting thicker cell walls and stronger stems.
Phosphorus – This is also abundant in banana peels. It is vital in all stages of plant production, encourages the growth of strong roots and shoots, and is also important for seed germination.
Calcium – This also helps with the development of roots and stems by breaking down other nutrients into forms that the plant can absorb.
Magnesium – This nutrient assists in the production of chlorophyll and helps plants to stay healthy and green.
Here is what you can do with banana peels:
#1 Add them to the compost!
It’s a simple solution and easy to do. Banana peels are actually the inspiration behind many compost piles, just because we end up throwing so many away!
#2 Dry them and grind them up to make fertilizer
Dry your banana peels in a dehydrator or in your oven at the lowest setting. Pulverize them into a powder and they are ready to be added to your garden whenever needed.
#3 Use them whole them in your garden
Dig a trench and lay your banana peels out flat, creating a nest for seeds. Add seeds to your banana peel nest and you will create a nutrient-rich environment for your new plants to thrive in.
#4 Make banana peel tea for your plants
Place your banana peels in a jar of water and let it sit for about 48 hours. Water your plants with the banana peel tea from the jar and watch them flourish!
#5 Make a fertilizer spray
Take some of your banana peel tea and combine it in a spray bottle with crushed eggshells and Epsom salts. This combination will give your plants extra calcium as well as magnesium.
#6 Make an insect trap
Do you want a creative and safe way of reducing insects in your garden? Soak your banana peels in apple cider vinegar and put them in a sealed plastic container. Poke insect-sized holes in the top. They will be attracted to the scent and will go inside the container but won’t be able to crawl back out.
#7 Create banana vinegar for acidic plants
Ferment your bananas by leaving them in a jar of water for several weeks, and then feed the liquid to plants that require more acidic soil, such as blueberries and hydrangeas.
#8 Add chopped peels directly to your garden
Chop your banana peels into small squares and add them directly to your garden. As they decompose, they will release nutrients into the soil.
#9 Deter aphids
Unlike us, aphids are not fans of banana peels. Take some of your chopped peels and put them just under the soil line to deter aphids before they cause chaos in your garden.
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