Are Banana Peels Good for Tomatoes?

Bananas are one of the most beloved fruits across the world, but they produce a lot of waste!

A banana peel is quite large, but they are an absolute dream for the compost pile.

However, if you don’t feel like waiting for 6 to 12 months for your compost to finish, there are other amazing ways to use those peels…

Including in your tomato garden!

What Do Banana Peels Do for Tomato Plants?

Banana peels are rich in potassium and phosphorus, which is highly important for tomato fruit production.

It’s an excellent practice to “plant” a banana peel under your tomato plants when you transplant them into the garden or into their final pots, much like people do with Epsom salt for added magnesium for their tomatoes. It’ll provide your plants with extra nutrition, and it’ll enrich the soil for years to come.

You can begin by freezing banana peels in the months leading up to planting season, if you intend to plant dozens of tomato plants- this way, you have plenty of banana peels on hand.

The Importance of Potassium and Phosphorus for Tomato Plants

Both potassium and phosphorus are vital nutrients for tomato plants.

Potassium acts as a method of transport for sugars within the plant, and it balances water and ions. It is actually also required for the production of sugars and proteins, as well as lycopene. Without potassium, the tomato plant wouldn’t last for very long.

As for phosphorus, it assists in turning the different nutrients that the plant takes up into useful forms that the plant can use. It’s also vital for transporting water to the fruits and photosynthesis.

How Many Banana Peels Should I Put Under or Around My Tomato Plants, and How Should I Apply?

When planting, I like to add a single banana peel to each planting hole before planting the tomatoes. If you’re starting and fertilizing tomato seedlings, you might want to opt for the tea that we lined to at the bottom.

For side dressing during the summer, I would recommend burying 1-2 banana peels around the base of your plant, ensuring that you cover them well to prevent animals or pests from invading the garden.

Another great method to reduce time would be to blend the banana peels in a blender with water, and pour some of the puree around the bases of the plants. This will break down much faster, and you have less of a risk of mice, rats, or voles carrying it off for breakfast. You could even add other beneficial waste to the mix, including egg shells or compost tea (if you add compost tea, I highly recommend only using a blender that you don’t intend on using with food again.)

Below, we have a video about banana peel tea, which is also another quick option for fertilizing- just water your plants with the peel tea!