Did you know banana-peels make one of the best fertilizers out there?
Turns out, banana-peels are a rich source of nutrients your plants crave: Potassium, phosphorus, and calcium, along with a host of other minerals your plants need.
Here are 6 ways you can add banana-peels to your garden.
1.Banana Peel Tea
Like compost-tea, this fertilizer uses nutrients leeched from banana peels to give your plants a mineral boost. To make it, fill a jar with water, and add banana-peels. Let it sit for 48-hours.
After 2-days, discard the peel, leaving the water in your mason jar. Mix the banana-peel tea with 10-parts of water, and Water your plants as usual.
2.Chop the peels, then add to your garden’s soil directly
Chop your banana peels into 1/4 inch pieces – by chopping them, you kick start the composting process, and release some of the beneficial vitamins and minerals in the peels.
Bury them anywhere from 4-inches down to just beneath the surface of the soil. As the peels decompose, all the valuable vitamins in the peels will reach the roots, giving you plants a nutrient bump that will make them happy.
3.Toss leftover banana peels into a compost pile.
If you want to feed your red-wigglers and indirectly use banana peels in the garden, toss your leftover peels in your compost-pile. It’s not the most inventive way to use the peels, but it’s a valuable method, nonetheless. Over time the peels will decompose and turn into rich-compost.
4.Dry the peels, then grind them into a fertilizer.
Similar to the spray version, you can dry your banana peels and grind them into a fertilizer. If you only have a few peels to use up, but want to use them effectively on many plants, this is a great option.
5.Create a banana peel spray
A step-up from banana peel tea, this spray is a fertilizer that also uses eggshells for a calcium boost and Epsom-salt for magnesium. If your plants are established, and you just want to give them a nutrient boost, try making a fertilizer-spray.
To create the fertilizer-spray, you’ll need banana peels, egg-shells, Epsom-salt, and water. Dry the banana-peels. and egg-shells, then once they’re dry, grind them together. Add the peels and shells to a spray bottle, along with the Epsom-salt, and fill the sprayer to the top. Spray on your plants as needed.
6.Create an insect trap
You can create a simple insect-trap with banana peels and apple cider vinegar.
If flies are a problem, and you’re looking for a non-toxic solution that’s pet friendly, creating this trap might be for you. It’s also a great way to reuse a disposable plastic-container.
To make an insect trap using banana-peels, combine small pieces of the peels with the vinegar, and shake to mix and release the scent of the banana. Drill-holes large enough to allow bugs to get through into your plastic-container, and pour your banana mixture into the container. Place outside in your garden to keep down the insect-population.
