Are potato peels good for your garden?

Author: Dr. Felix Moore DDS  |  Last update: Sunday, November 30, 2025

Yes, there is a quick and easy way to convert potato skins into fertilizer for your garden. First, you will want to peel your potatoes and set the peels aside in a jar. Next, fill the jar with the skins up with water until it is full, and let it sit for 3-7 days.

How to use potato peels in the garden?

  • Make a nutrient-rich liquid: Collect potato peels and soak them in water for a few days.
  • Strain and dilute: Strain the liquid with water before applying it to your plants.
  • Repeat: Add more peels to the leftover liquid and continue steeping for a continuous supply.

Are potato skins good for soil?

Whole bananas and potato peels are the raw materials for great, easy plant fertilizer.

How long does it take for potato peels to decompose?

It's usually 3 to 6 months in the right conditions. What are they? Well, first, there must be moisture in the compost pile. Coupled with helpful microbes, adequate heat, and oxygen, you'll barely be able to recognize the peelings in a few months.

Do earthworms like potato peels?

As a member of the nightshade family, potatoes are relatively high in solanine. Solanine is a toxin that acts as a pesticide. So, it should come as no surprise that compost worms avoid the potato peels they're served.

Potato Peel Fertilizer - How to Make Potato Peel Fertilizer

Why should you not throw potato scraps away?

Also, avoid any green peels; they may contain solanine, which is a toxin that is not (I repeat not) usually an issue in potatoes, since potatoes simply don't contain enough of it to bother most people. But small children can be more sensitive, and just to be on the safe side, I would discard any really green peels.

Can I just throw banana peels in my garden?

As they decompose, they will release nutrients into the soil to feed plants. If using banana peels in your garden, place a single layer straight on top of the soil, being sure not to let them touch the plant stem. Cover the peels with a standard mulch, such as sugar cane mulch, to prevent attracting fruit flies.

What do eggshells do for plants?

Before you toss your eggshells, it's time to give them a second shot. Eggshells used as fertilizer for your garden can benefit the soil your plants use to gain essential nutrients, aiding rapid growth and keeping soil acidity in check.

What are the disadvantages of banana peels as fertilizer?

However, the peels will break down so slowly that they likely won't provide adequate nutrients when your plants need them. Another downside to banana peels as fertilizer is that rotting organic matter can attract pests such as fruit flies, fungus gnats, and even cockroaches.

What can I do with my potato peelings?

Toss the peels in a salad spinner and dry them, or dry them with a kitchen towel. Add the peels to a bowl with the Vadouvan and a generous quantity of oil and toss to coat. Spread the potato skins in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake, stirring the skins occasionally, until crisp.

How often should I water my plants with banana water?

You can water your plants with banana peel water fertilizer once a week. Many plants require watering once a week, so you can use compost tea during each hydration session. However, if your plants need a drink more often in the summer, stick to only using banana water once a week.

Are coffee grounds good for potato soil?

What Vegetables Like Coffee Grounds? Coffee grounds as a fertilizer can be used when growing vegetable crops such as potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, radishes, and beans. Root crops need magnesium and potassium, while nitrogen is indispensable for green crops.

Are potato peels bad for compost?

Yes, potato peels are compostable. In fact they contain higher concentrations of potassium and iron and calcium than are present in the interior of the potato. For heap or pile composting however, you'll want to exclude peels that are rotting or diseased as these can fester further before they break down.

Is potato fertiliser good for tomatoes?

You can use potato fertiliser on certain plants, such as parsnip or tomato plants, as they also benefit from high potassium fertilisers.

Can you put old fruit in soil?

Organic fertilizing is the best option for your garden or flower beds. And leftovers from fruit and veggies can certainly be used as fertilizer. Another good advantage of using this fertilizing method is the fact that you can thus greatly reduce the amount of waste in landfills.

What do coffee grounds do for plants?

As they break down, coffee grounds release nitrogen, an essential nutrient for healthy foliage growth. They are also a source of other primary nutrients including potassium and phosphorus, as well as micronutrients such as boron, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Find out more on soil basics.

What is the best homemade fertilizer?

Five Affordable and Easy DIY Organic Fertilizers You Can Find Right In Your Home
  • Eggshells. Save your eggshells people, I cannot stress this enough. ...
  • Rice Water. If you aren't washing your rice before you cook it, you should really try it...and then save the water for your house plants! ...
  • Coffee. ...
  • Potato Water. ...
  • Banana Peels.

Are tea bags good for plants?

Tea Can Work As A Natural Fertilizer

As the tea leaves and bag begin to break down and decompose, they release nutrients into the soil that helps plants retain water and thrive. That said, you should use tea only on your plants that like acidic soil.

Can I mix coffee grounds and eggshells together for my garden?

Depending on the size of your garden, compile enough of each component to contribute a moderate amount to each hungry plant. Combine the two together, crush the eggshells by hand even more (which should be easier now that they're fully dry), and sprinkle the mixture across the soil bed.

Will squirrels eat banana peels?

Food scraps

You may even find them in your compost bin too which is a good place for squirrels to find food! They can also be found eating food scraps like apple cores, banana peels, and even orange rinds.

What happens if you bury bananas in your garden?

Soil is alive and has its own ecosystem. If a banana peel is buried in the soil, microorganisms will work to break it down. But this can take away from the microorganisms providing the current nutrients in the soil to your plants.

Why shouldn't you eat the skin of potatoes?

Glycoalkaloids occur naturally in potatoes and are toxic to humans at high levels. Glycoalkaloids are concentrated in the peel and prolonged exposure of tubers to light will stimulate the formation of glycoalkaloids near the surface of the potato tuber.

Can you put rotten potatoes in compost?

Rotten potatoes can be added to your compost pile, but they may produce unpleasant smells.

Should I throw away potatoes with eyes?

A potato that has grown eyes is still safe to eat so long as it's firm to the touch and its skin isn't shriveled. Sprouts, however, are not edible and should be removed and tossed.

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