How to Compost Banana Peels
With all the media hype of late, you've probably heard of the Green Movement, and if you're like most Americans, you'd like to do something to help our planet. One of the first things you can do to help the planet is to start a compost bin. Fruit peels, leaves and other natural waste make up about 30 percent of your garbage. With a few steps, you can make that waste more productive and help your garden grow. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Compost bin
- Nails
- Hammer
- Mesh wire netting
- Two cinder blocks
- Tray
- Leaves, dried grass or newspaper
- Water
- Red worms
- Banana peels
- Other natural waste
Instructions
-
-
1
Buy a bin. A trash can with a lid that seals will do. The size of your compost bin depends on how much compost you want to make at a time. However, your bin should be at least 2 feet across and more than 8 inches deep to make good compost.
-
2
Decide where you want to put your compost bin. If you're going to cold compost and just throw your rotting banana peels in the bin, you probably want your bin to remain outside. When you cold compost, the banana peels can take longer to rot, creating more of a smell. If you're going to hot compost and stir everything up regularly, you can keep your bin inside as the stirring actually helps to aerate the compost. So, there's less smell.
-
-
3
Punch holes in the bottom of your bin, using a hammer and nails. This will help keep the air circulating through the bin to increase the rate of rot and will help with the smell later.
-
4
Pull out the nails, and clean out any little plastic pieces your hole punching may have created.
-
5
Lay the mesh wire netting in the bottom of your bin.
-
6
Place the bin on the cinder blocks, and put the tray underneath the bin to catch any falling debris.
-
7
Get dead leaves or old newspaper, torn into strips, and fill your bin halfway. Wet it until it's moist, not soaking.
-
8
Add about 2 lb. of red worms. Red worms are different than the earthworms you find in your yard. You can purchase red worms at places that sell fishing bait or at most plant nurseries. Unlike earthworms, red worms are attracted to and love to eat rotting fruit and vegetables, like your banana peels.
-
9
Stuff your banana peels under the bedding, and eventually, they will rot and become compost.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The size of your mesh wire and the number of worms you buy will depend on the size of your bin. For larger bins, buy more.
After a few weeks, you can dig a hole to put your banana peels in instead of pushing them under the leaves.
Remember to stir your compost bin to keep the smell down.
If your compost bin becomes too wet, take the lid off for a couple hours. So, it can dry out. If your compost bin becomes too dry, spray it with a little water.
If you have roses in your yard, you may want to bury your banana peels near your roses, instead of composting them, to help your roses grow.
Banana peels are a common home for fruit fly larvae. Be sure to buy a bin that seals well if you don't want fruit flies.
Even with proper upkeep, compost bins can smell a little bit. So, place your compost bin somewhere a bit of smell won't bother you.
References
More Like This
Comments
-
Small fruit flies, especially, are naturally attracted to the compost pile. They can be discouraged by simply covering any exposed fruit or vegetable matter. Keep a small pile of grass clippings next to your compost bin, and when you add new kitchen waste to the pile, cover it with one or two inches of clippings. Adding lime or calcium will also discourage flies.
