Which plants need potato peeling fertilizer?

Potatoes have become a staple in the diet of many families. Typically, the waste from peeling them accounts for at least a fifth of the total weight. Instead of throwing potato peelings in the trash, it's better to use them as fertilizer. This fertilizer is especially beneficial for most vegetable and ornamental crops grown in the garden. Furthermore, there are several ways to prepare it. Which plants benefit from this fertilizer, and when and how to apply it correctly.

The benefits of peels for the garden

Potato waste is easily digested by soil bacteria. All the nutrients remain in the soil, where they are subsequently absorbed by the roots of garden crops along with moisture. The peel itself and the thin layer beneath it contain many valuable substances:

• ascorbic acid;
• glucose;
• starch;
• microelements: phosphorus, fluorine, potassium, magnesium;
• organic acids.

This harmless fertilizer will be very useful for plants. Moreover, potato peels have advantages that synthetic fertilizers lack:

1. Availability – over the winter, a considerable amount of waste accumulates, which is enough to enrich the soil in a small area.
2. Increases soil fertility with regular application: the volume of humus increases, the soil becomes saturated with oxygen due to increased porosity.
3. In terms of organic composition, it surpasses industrial production complexes.
4. Organic – hazardous compounds do not accumulate in the soil.
5. They help fight some pests.

Fresh peelings can also be effective in killing pests when applied externally. Simply scatter piles between garden beds: slugs, wireworm larvae, and even Colorado potato beetles will swarm to them. Then, simply collect and destroy them.

However, to see visible results, cleanings must be applied regularly and in considerable quantities. Moreover, they are not suitable for all plants.

Crops that will appreciate fertilizer

Fertilizing potato peels is strictly contraindicated for potato relatives in the nightshade family. Besides potatoes, this includes tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplant. The reason is that they are susceptible to the same diseases. Using peels that haven't been heat-treated will lead to the development of late blight and black scab. Other crops will benefit from this type of fertilization:

1. Melons: cucumber, watermelon, zucchini.
2. Root vegetables – onions, carrots and others.
3. Representatives of the cruciferous family are cabbage.
4. Berry and fruit plants – currants, raspberries, gooseberries.

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Flowers love potato fertilizer. It can be used not only for garden plants but also for indoor flowering plants.

Preparation and application of fertilizer

There are several options for potato-based fertilizers. However, the raw materials must be preserved until use. Preserving the nutrients, and therefore the effectiveness of the fertilizer, depends on how well this is done. There are two ways to prepare the raw materials:

• dry;
• freeze.

You can dry potato peels even in a city apartment. It will take some effort, though:

1. Collect the peel and rinse it thoroughly in cold water until all dirt is gone.
2. Squeeze the mixture thoroughly and wait until as much moisture as possible evaporates.
3. Dry in the air or in an oven.

When drying peels on a balcony or window, spread them in a thin layer on paper or fabric. Regular fresh air will help prevent them from rotting. Also, be sure to keep the peels out of direct sunlight.

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Complete drying usually takes 10-12 days. This depends on the peel thickness, the layer, and the room climate. If you need quick results, you can use household appliances:

• oven – 3–4 hours at 100 C;
• microwave – up to 1 hour, select the mode experimentally.

The finished product is brittle, translucent, and easily broken. It should be placed in cloth bags to prevent the fertilizer from suffocating. If dried naturally, store the product in a cool place—a balcony, shed, or garage—to ensure the low temperatures kill any pathogens. If dried in an oven or microwave, store it in a pantry.

Freezing is another way to preserve potato scraps. The freezer comes to mind, but there's usually limited space. A solution is to store the peelings on the balcony after the temperature has been set below freezing.

There are three methods for making fertilizer from potato waste. Each has its own unique characteristics.

Flour

To prepare the powder, pre-dried raw materials are used. They are passed through a grinder (meat grinder, blender). The powder is then used to make a strained solution (very popular with cruciferous plants and indoor flowering plants), or it is sprinkled dry on the roots of young seedlings or mature bushes once every four weeks.

It's best to store it in bags like this, but not for long. Flour absorbs moisture from the air and can start to rot. It can also harbor insects.

Gruel

This type of fertilizer is also prepared using dried raw materials. They are placed in a barrel and filled with boiling water, ensuring the peels are completely submerged. This kills fungi and pathogens. The peels are left to soak for a week. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and applied to the roots of seedlings or mature plants in the garden.

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Infusion

This type of fertilizer requires fresh or frozen waste. Pour boiling water over it, let it sit for 24 hours, and then water your garden plants or indoor flowers with the resulting solution every 14 days. Any form of fertilizer can be added to the planting holes before planting. Fertilizing should be repeated every 10-14 days.

It's important to feed berry and fruit crops during the fruiting period, when the harvest is ripening, and shortly before the scheduled harvest. It's best to apply flour at a short distance from the roots. In the spring, before currants begin to bloom, it's recommended to apply a layer of potato flour around the perimeter of the crown to a depth of about 15 cm. This fertilizer will provide the plant with essential nutrients.

Fertilizing crops with potato peels makes sense—the fertilizer is affordable, easy to prepare, and suitable for most garden plants. However, it must be applied regularly and in large quantities.