Most plants need a certain amount of these top three macronutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. While there are TONS of different ways to get nitrogen to your vegetable garden, there are fewer to boost potassium. Banana peels can help with that, and and banana peel fertilizer is so easy to make.
Potassium helps your plants move water and nutrients between cells. It strengthens the stems of your plants and protects them from disease. It is used to help the flowering process and is thought to be able to improve the quality of the fruit of your plants.
At 42% potassium, banana peels are a fantastic source. They are one of the highest organic potassium sources, and is loads higher in potassium than even wood ash. They do not contain nitrogen, which makes using this fertilizer for tomatoes and peppers a perfect choice because they both have a low nitrogen need.
Banana peels also contain calcium, which helps plants take up more nitrogen, which some potassium loving plants need. They also contain manganese, which helps with photosynthesis; sodium, which helps movement of water between cells; and magnesium and sulfur, both of which are helpful in the formation of chlorophyll.
NOTE: Banana peels can be buried whole near potassium-loving plants, if there will be no issue with creatures digging them up. However, whenever there is something to break down in the garden, nitrogen is depleted. If your plants have a good source of nitrogen already, then there is no problem burying a banana peel.
Use Organic Bananas for Banana Peel Fertilizer
Your best bet for avoiding toxins will be to use organic banana peels. According to an article on the Environmental Working Group website, banana-growing methods are pretty pesticide heavy.
The reason for this is because bananas are grown in monocultures, which means that’s all they grow, and they do it over and over on the same land.
This creates a situation where the banana plants are quite vulnerable to pests and disease, therefore, there is a need for using plenty of pesticide. This is the reason that gardening books recommend rotating crops in your garden.
If Cost is Your Issue
Even if you do use organic bananas, it will be a pretty cheap fertilizer still — free really — because you would be throwing away the peels anyway. Plus, you will be getting fewer pesticides through your everyday snacks!
Frequently Asked Questions
Banana Peel Fertilizer Recipe
banana peels
quart mason jars
plastic mason jar lids
water
Add one banana peel to each quart jar.
Fill jars with water and seal.
Allow to sit for about a week before using on your potassium loving plants.
Once it’s finished, use all of this fertilizer on one or two plants. Throw the peel into the compost pile, or throw away.
If you noticed a potassium deficiency in your plants, take note of that, and any changes that happen within a few days.
Looking for a dry version of banana peel fertilizer? Click here.
I put peels in the Magic Bullet or blender with water and turn it into a watery puree. The fine particles of peel that are left are quickly eaten by micro-organisms in the soil.
Oooh, that is a really great idea too, Robin! Love it, thanks for sharing!
I want to try hay/straw bale gardening this year since my space is really limited. Can I use the banana water to condition the bales before planting, or use something else for that and use the nana water later?
Personally, I would use it when it’s needed, versus before. Unortunately, I’m not very well versed with how long the nutrients would stay around in the straw bale. Of course, you could use it in the straw bales, and if your plants show any deficiency in potassium later, then use the fertilizer again. 🙂
I had great success with my straw bale gardens. You could certainly use the banana fertilizer once your plants are growing. It can’t be used to condition the bales because conditioning requires different nutrients. The bales will hold the fertilizer well so give it a try.
Oh yes, straw bales would be different wouldn’t they? I loved seeing photos of your gardens, Ann–I don’t know anyone else who gardens that way, so your photos are always intriguing to me! Let me know how it works for you!
I’ve done hay bales gardening, and tomatoes do great in them! But you condition them with nitrogen first.
Thank you for sharing that, Carol! I’ve not done hay bale gardening myself, so I’m glad you mentioned it!
I have a Facebook friend that lives on a farm in upstate New York! She grew some amazing vegetables and even watermelons under hay! Her name is Margaret Syrotiak if you would like to reach out to her!!!
same here i use my vitamix but any good blender will work..
A vitamix is good for so many things! One of these days, I’d like one for my kitchen!
I don’t know what I’d do without mine! Use my Vitamix almost daily. Just ground up some banana peels in it for my garden. Splurge and get one-you won’t regret it!
Oooohh, yes, a Vitamix! On my list of wants! 🙂
If I don’t use it all at once should I refrigerate the rest??
I would think so, but I wouldn’t keep it longer than a week, Rita.
I would think that if you don’t refrigerate it, and you leave it sit on the counter a few days it will ferment…which is even better! More nutritious !!
Yes! Great observation and I completely agree!
Wow! I just did that, now do i dump that directly on my plants?
Hi Denise! I wouldn’t dump it directly ON plants, but water potassium-loving plants around the stem.
How often should I use the banana water on my plants? I dont want to over fertilize them.
Sure, Melody, I understand. Depending on the plant, you will want to watch for when it is low on potassium and give it some fertilizer. Otherwise, I would do it every two weeks, small plants no more than a pint watered around the base of the plant, larger plants, a quart or more. (That’s just a guess, as there are many variables. Good place to start, though. 🙂 )
Great idea! I use the banana peels…and bury them… or cut them up and bury them… and I put lots of them into my compost, but I have never used them like this… what a good idea. 🙂
Hi Gentle Joy! I like this idea a lot because it means that I can use them in both places (however, the banana peels are probably pretty well spent, I’m thinking). My dog Bella is notorious for digging things up in the compost pile, so I’m not wanting to add anything she’ll want to dig up to the garden, so this works well for me. I think burying them would be better if one were aiming for a slower breakdown and dispersement of potassium, though. But that’s just me speculating!
I’ve also heard of people drying and then blitzing banana peels into a powder that is used to dress the garden. It may be a good way to store peels for later use when you have an abundance.
That’s a REALLY fantastic idea, Therese. I think I will definitely do that. Thanks for the idea and the visit!
Love that!
I started making the banana water, for my plants. After I have the water (I call it banana tea), I put the cut up banana peels on a pizza stone, and place it outside in the sun. (I never thought to put them in the blender, from another reply posted here. Another idea!). Then when dry, grind them up.
Great idea, Sheila!
I love this idea! I compost the peels, but never thought to make a tea out of them.
Neither did I! I always composted them too!
Great idea! I oven use my banana peels and put them a couple inches around my rose bushes. They do seem to nourish them quite well. I love your idea too and will try this. Thanks for sharing. Visiting from Wildcrafting Wednesdays. Shared on twitter & pinnedl
Thank you so much, Marla!
What a great idea. I put the peels directly into the compost and bury a few around some of my plants but I am going to give this a try and see how much of a difference this makes.
Great! I’d love to hear how it works out for you. I love doing it this way because it knocks out watering and fertilizing at the same time, and my dog doesn’t dig in the garden to get the banana peels to strew around the yard! ha ha! Thanks for your visit, Lois!
Hi,
LOve your idea of banana peel tea. A friend uses the following formula to feed her roses. I cup coffee grounds,
about 8-10 egg shells and all the banana peels she can squeeze in her blender. Blends it and pours it on her roses. My pastor’s wife just throws the banana peel at the base of her roses. I’m going to to try your recipe for use on the tomatoes and peppers. Thanks, Sondra
Wow, that’s an interesting recipe. I’ve got eggs shells and banana peels that I could try that with right now. My poor roses are really looking sorry! Thanks for sharing, Sondra!
Cool idea. Since potassium increases pH, it wouldn’t work for me because we have soil with super high pH, but what a great way to use banana peels.
Thanks for linking up on the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home!
Jennifer
Oh really? We have high pH in our soil too, so that’s interesting to know. Since I garden in raised beds (horrible, horrible soil at our new property), I do have to balance out all the nitrogen from the manure. Otherwise, I’d be in the same boat as you are! Maybe you can use it for any roses (or any other potassium-loving plants) you have in containers? Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer!
Hi! Once the banana peels are fermented, the ph of the liquid will be acidic. Mine has the ph of 5
Thanks Robert, I didn’t realize that!
What a great post and very informative, I didn’t know that you could use banana peels like that. Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
Thank you Terri!
I do that, but I chop the peels up and let them soak a few days. Then I use the water on the plants and dehydrate the peels. When they’re dry, I mix them with dried veggie scraps, coffee grounds and eggshells in the food processor and grind them down to almost a powder, then use that as mulch. 🙂
Way to use those banana peels up, Patrick! Great idea, thanks for sharing! 🙂
Wow! I’ve never thought of making tea out of banana peels. I often experiment to see what works best for my garden. I’ve found here in Texas this year foil mulch worked really well for our super wet Spring. Everyone else’s tomatoes and squash died but we had plenty for us and our farm stand sales!
I’m going to definitely try this on some plants and grow some without it. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
I’ll be putting this article on my Almosta Farm Stand Facebook page!
Thanks!!!
Do you have a link for the strawberry syrup? I love to get double uses out if things!
I’d love that recipe as well! Love strawberry syrup and already freeze strawberries each year. Would love to be able to use the tops!
HI LSM and Alecia! It just so happens that since it is strawberry season, I will be posting the recipe this month. Stay tuned! 🙂
Thank you! Appreciate it.
After the tea is made, how much do you give each plant?
Hi Jo! I actually just divide it up between 5-6 plants because banana peels are so jam-packed with potassium. However, if you are more inclined to measure, you could figure one banana peel per plant since that’s what people usually do when they bury a banana peel next to their plants. This might work out this way: put one banana peel per quart jar, add water, and allow to steep for 3-7 days (I’d maybe go with 4-5 days so it doesn’t stink–7 days can yield quite a pungent liquid–but that’s just me), then pour one of your quarts of brew around each plant (one quart per plant, that is). Alternatively, you can click over to my dry potassium fertilizer and use 1 Tbsp (about 1 peel’s worth) around each plant. (Scroll up to the end of this post, just under the “Continue the Learning” heading for the link to that post.) Hope that helps!
I just watched a video on youtube about making tea from comfrey leaves for fertilizer . Also can use nettle as well .provides nitrogen -interesting -I didn’t know that !!! I have used dried horse manure to make tea in the past -just don’t use fresh , too intense – go for the ( aged manure ) And bat guano ( poop) is some of the best fertilizer there is ( be found at grow stores )
Thanks for the tips, Linzie! I didn’t know those things either. I have plenty of aged horse manure here, so I guess I’m in business!
I put banana peels right on my staghorn plant and it works for them but I do get the nats so I will be using the wet stuff to cut down on the bugs. Thanks
Yeah, I hate gnats for sure! They sure do love rotting bananas!
Thanks this is a great idea, I have always thrown my peels in the compost pile or give a few to the hens. From now on will be using them as tea for the tomatoes and peppers in the garden. Ellen from Georgia
Can this be used on house plants as well or just veggies?
I can’t imagine why not, Lana!
Banana peels are also great for your blueberries. I made the same tea for mine and reaped a great harvest of berries.
Awesome, Mickie, thanks for that tip!
Thanks for the idea. I tend to avoid burying banana peels anywhere near my garden as the raccoons and possums dig them up, so it’s good to have alternatives.
Great idea! I have started my banana peel ferilizer a couple days ago and have used it on my tomato plants that are no taller than a half inch. Next 2 days they have grown a beautiful dark green and are growing faster then the ones with no banana peel fertilizer added.
Awesome, Jarrett! That is so fantastic to know. I’d better make up a batch and get it around my tomatoes soon too! 😀 Thanks for sharing!
I have a ton of banana peelings saved in the freezer. Now what do we do to use them in our potting soil?
Sorry…potting mix, not soil,
How about this?
https://stonefamilyfarmstead.com/dry-potassium-fertilizer-from-banana-peels/
How often are we supposed to add the banana mixture to our plants?
I would do this when my plant was beginning to look deficient of potassium.
How often do you do this?
I would do this when my plant was beginning to look deficient of potassium.
Thanks for all the info. I live for ideas on gardening.
I think that is where i keep my sanity is to be in the garden and see my plants come to life. Alice
I have recently started using banana peels and egg shells. I blend them with water and i water my plants with it. However, i haven’t seen any results. Could it be that the blending neutralizes the potassium and calcium?
Or am I not giving it enough time? How long should i wait to see results?
Great information on how to use banana peel infused water to fertilize your garden. Sometimes if a banana gets too brown before we get to it we make banana bread then get rid of the peels. I suppose if we are not going to make bread you can use the fruit also with this technique. Anyway great info. Keep up the good work. – J.T.
I’m quite interested with the idea of using fermented banana peels as organic fertilizer. And I must say, among all those who posted this, you are the only one who gave concrete measurement when fermenting banana peels. But I have a question, how often should you apply this, I mean for example my plants, which are mung plants? How often should i fertilize them? I saw that you responded to a comment above saying that you apply it when your plants start to look potassium deficient. Can I get an exact number of days? More power and god bless~
Can you exactly explain how did you use your foil as a mulch as we in the UK have just had a long spell of heavy rain & I have been worrying if my plants have drowned & the roots rotted so this might help if we get it again.
I tried this but the banana peel water apparently fermented 🙁
Fermented isn’t the worst thing. How long did you leave it on the counter? If you don’t want it to be fermented, you could always brew it for a shorter time if it’s warm in place where you leave the jar.
All fall and winter I chop up my banana peels and place them in one of those Tropicana OJ bottles tapered top is perfect to handle and pour. Just don’t screw the cap on too tight, it starts to ferment and the bottle will explode. By that time the odor will be horrendous especially inside the house, so don’t forget to back off that cap. I store mine on shelving outside ’til the spring. I just read that placing the peels in a blender to liquify, great idea, then I won’t have to half the bottle or shake the cut up peels as they fall out. Thanks
Great point made about backing off the cap! Thank you for mentioning it!
I’ve been making banana tea for a while and am about to do a chemical test to see how much potassium is actually in it. Especially compared to, for example, tomato feed available in the shops. One thing I recommend you correct above: bananas are not 42% potassium. The vast majority of a banana skin is water. Banana peels have about 78.10mg/g of potassium ie 7.8%
Thank you for that, Mark! I wrote this so long ago, that I don’t recall where I got that figure. I will make sure to research that and make any corrections!
I live in Cyprus now, and I have been burying my banana peels, turning them into liquid fertiliser sounds great thanks, Tomatoes and Bell Peppers grow well here in the sun and with the banana peels. Banana peels are good for your teeth too, soon as you peel one run the white in the skin gently around your teeth for pearly white teeth, rub it on your wrinkles and it gets rid of them too, makes your skin soft, Then as you say make fertiliser, excellent,
Lenny from Cyprus.
Cool ideas, Lenny! Thank you for sharing them!
How about garlic, my get rotten mid Summer. There is something (little worms) that eat fiber.
And after a while leaves get Yalow. nitrogen can not go into it.
I would like to find out how to cure this!
Thanks,