Gardeners are always looking for affordable ways to help their plants grow, and it seems that an everyday kitchen scrap can work wonders in the garden
Make your compost rich and fertile with this scrap(Image: Kinga Krzeminska via Getty Images)
Gardeners are looking to create their own cost-effective fertilisers, with one, Angela Knight, seeking advice on the Gardening UK Facebook page. She said: “Hi, I have a few compost questions.
“Can I put orange peel in the compost bin? I eat loads of oranges, but as I never know if you can, I tend to throw the peel away. I know you can’t put onions, cooked food and meat in, but is there anything else you shouldn’t put in the compost bin?”.
Fellow gardeners were quick to support adding orange peels into the mix, with Louise Gallagher expressing her positive experience: “I always add oranges and onions. Not had any problems.”
Mabel Walker said: “I put all uncooked veg and fruit peel, onions and orange peel.”
Similarly, Brian Corr endorsed using citrus peels: “I have always put onions and also orange, lime and lemon peels, and it’s never been an issue for me
“It’s helped my plants fantastically, and they flower better. It’s also deterred rats and cats from my garden.”
Orange peel makes an effective compost(Image: Tsvetomir Hristov via Getty Images)
The potent smell of citrus not only enhances compost but acts as a reliable cat repellent in gardens.
Moreover, foxes and rats are less likely to invade spaces scented with orange.
Chris Taylor highlighted the benefits of orange peels: “Orange peel is brilliant to add to compost as it breaks down and releases lots of vitamins.”
Compost aficionados find that within two years, these peels contribute to the decomposition process, enriching their gardens immeasurably.
This will enrich the compost with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, vital nutrients for the garden.
Given the acidic nature of citrus peels, the compost can be utilised on a range of plants, including hydrangeas and azaleas.
Blueberry bushes and potato crops could also reap benefits from this homemade compost.
Oranges can be obtained from any supermarket for roughly 20p per orange, proving to be a cost-effective hack without any waste.