DIY organic powder fertilizer from food waste

Banana peels, egg shells, and coffee grounds (or tea leaves) can easily be dried and ground into powder form for an inexpensive organic fertilizer. These three combined provide a balanced yet flexible organic fertilizer that can be customized to suit either fruit/flower plants or foliage plants.
Garden fertilizer labels list NPK which stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Coffee grounds or tea leaves provide nitrogen which is the building block for new stems and leaves. Egg shells provide phosphorus which plays a key role in photosynthesis (the metabolism of changing sunlight energy to chemical energy/food for the plant). Banana peels are an excellent source of potassium which helps strengthen plants immune system, improves the quality of fruits and flowers, and nourishes roots.
To prepare banana peels, use the entire peel including the stem. Cut the peel into 1- inch pieces and place on a baking sheet in direct sun for five to seven days. A faster way to dry banana peels is to put the baking sheet with banana peel squares into an oven at 200 degrees with the oven door left open for several hours or until dry. Once the peel squares are dry, use a coffee grinder or blender to grind the squares into a fine powder. Store separately in an air tight glass jar.
Eggs shells should be washed with soapy water and rinsed thoroughly to remove any chance of salmonella. Place them either whole or crushed on a baking sheet and baked at 200 degrees for 30 minutes until dry. Grind them in either a coffee grinder or blender into a fine powder. Store separately in an air tight glass jar.
Coffee grounds (used) or used tea leaves should also be dried either in the sun or in the oven at a low temperature. Once dry they can be ground into a powder. Store separately in an air tight glass jar.
Please keep in mind that fertilizers are for the soil, to make the soil the best environment for a healthy plant. It is best to know what your soil is lacking before fertilizing to avoid adding a mineral that the soil already has, or skipping a mineral that the soil is lacking. Look for our next column which will cover easy DIY soil testing at home.
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