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I was told today that banana skins in compost are a big no-no! Does anyone else agree with this and if so,why? (The person who told me didn't know.)

I do hope not cos I always put mine in.

nonsense

Allegedly they encourage ants... but I usually compost mine...how many I would have to eat before it became a problem?
???

I've heard that one too maggie but ignored it as it's never been a problem. The site rep comes for his chat at banana time so he can hurl the skin onto my plot 'to add to the mulch' :D

Thanks folks,then I shall do likewise (not hurl it onto your plot Sarah,can't throw that far ;D)
Thought it was a bit daft,but it came from a 'very experienced gardener'  I suppose that doesn't make him an expert  ;)

Just Googled it and the only thing I could find (after a v.quick scan) was the fact that they might not break down as quickly as other things same as egg shells.  But that's no big disaster?!
;D

I put them on mine and had no ill effect that I have noticed. I do know that banana skins, face down are very good for roses. I thought it was an old wives tale but saw it on TV once. I usually put them on my roses, don't know if they are better or not but can't harm, can it? :)

I always put banana skins on the compost. They seem to brake down along with the other material.  My main bug is when the little label  has been left on the skin and that has not broken down >:(

Never heard that one...

I have, however, heard that citrus peel (except in small quantities) isn't a great addition. I was told that it's not great for the worms...  anyone know more?

Banana skins have traces of phosphorus which is a valuable trace mineral needed by plants so compost them

I have always put my banana skins in the compost as they seem to rot down really well and have never heard anything against doing it.  ??? busy_lizzie

Quote from: triffid on October 24, 2006, 18:04:01
citrus peel (except in small quantities) isn't a great addition. I was told that it's not great for the worms...  anyone know more?

don't think it's going to be a problem unless you guzzle industrial quantities of citrus ;)

allotmenteers have so much more compostable stuff than households that buy from supermarkets, so maintaining a balance is a doddle. IMO peeps who buy from supermarkets will tend to have a higher proportion of citrus waste cos they don't have normal peelings/leafage going in ::)

If you compost vast quantities of the stuff it's going to be a seriously acid heap, could that be the problem? I can't see that a little would make any noticeable difference.

An orange skin a day, a grapefruit skin a week and lots of lemon skins go on our compost heap. I have also been criticised for this, but they seem to disappear OK.

Quoteunless you guzzle industrial quantities of citrus

fnaak! ;D

You haven't seen what the triffid brood get through during clementine season! Average is 4lb of sats/clems etc a day. That's a day.

Our greengrocer loves us (in a sort of horrified way!!)  ;D

We throw ours in too.

I usually give them a rince when I buy them because bananas have lots of pesticides, but you don't have to.

We're mega citrus fruit eaters here to.At least 3 grapefruit a week and loads of oranges (and the occasional lemon bits left over from the G&T ;D).
I have always bunged them all on the heap along with the nana skins.
It never occurred to me not to. I shall definately ignore the advice as a result of the overwhelming opinion given here, thanks folks.

If you've got any citrus plants, presumably they'd prefer the citrus compost?

every banana that gets eaten in our house goes straight onto the garden, round the roses and anything that needs flower encouragement (I'm trying them on my wisteria at present) - the skins turn brown by next day so they become invisible

the art of composting is getting a balance so 'some' citrus is fine - I suppose the worms find the juice caustic but it'll rot down eventually