Gardeners urged to leave part of a banana in gardens this week

Leaving banana peel in your garden might seem like an odd idea but it could have some major benefits this week as we head towards the summer months. Banana peels aren’t just food waste, they’re a goldmine for your garden . This part of the banana is packed with potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and other essential nutrients, it offers a natural and sustainable way to enrich your soil and support plant health.

Brisbane City Council has shared some reasons why you should leave banana peel in your garden . One way to use your banana peels is as mulch - as they break down, they feed your soil and help retain moisture. Make sure to lay them flat on top of your garden soil, ensuring they don’t touch plant stems.



Cover with a layer of regular mulch such as sugarcane mulch which could deter pests. Another way you can use them is to create a natural slow-release fertiliser. For a longer-lasting nutrient boost, you should dry banana peels in the sun or in a low oven with the door cracked open.

Once fully dried, you can use the peels as chips or grind them into a fine powder before adding this to your garden beds, potted plants, or mix it into potting soil. This slow-release fertiliser is especially beneficial for epiphytes like staghorn ferns, orchids, and bromeliads. Finally, if you’re not sure what to do with your banana peels you can always compost them.

They’re ideal for compost bins, adding valuable nutrients and promoting healthy decomposition. According to Accessible Gardens , banana peels are good for gardens because they contain 42% potassium, one of the three major components of urea, along with nitrogen and phosphorus. Banana peels contain the highest percentage of organic potassium of any food.

So next time you eat a banana, don’t toss the peel, instead keep it for your garden ..