DIY Banana Peel Fertilizer: How to Make Liquid & Dry Banana Peel Fertilizer at Home for Your Garden by Donna John

Phosphorus is an important mineral needed to grow healthy plants – especially vegetables and flowers. Plants need phosphorus for "strong root growth, fruit, stem and seed development, disease resistance and general plant vigor," according to VeggieGardener.com. Good sources are rock phosphate, bone meal and, surprisingly, DIY banana peel fertilizer. This homemade fertilizer works especially well on tomato and pepper plants because of their low nitrogen need. You can make two types of banana peel fertilizer: liquid or powder. Here's how to make both.

For the liquid banana peel fertilizer you'll need:

• banana peels (preferably overripe)
• water
• strainer or colander

Here's how to make it: 

Cut up about five banana peels. Put them in a pot with about 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

Strain the liquid into a container. Smash the peels with a spoon to get all the liquid out. Add about 8 more cups of water to the banana liquid. Cool before watering your plants with it.

For the powder banana peel fertilizer you'll need:

• banana peels (preferably overripe)

Here's how to make powdered banana peel fertilizer:

1. Cut the banana peels into pieces. 
2. Lay them in the sun to dry completely. (They should be crispy and black.) 
3. Crush the dried banana peels to make a powder. (A mortar and pestle works great for this, or you could pulse in a spice grinder or even crush with a heavy skillet or rolling pin.) Store in an airtight container. 
4. To use, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon around the base of your plant and then water. Do this about every two weeks.
   

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