The chemical oils in citrus fruits break down very quickly, so there is no threat to beneficial insects. As they decompose, citrus fruit adds phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium to your compost, helping boost the nutritional content of your pile. Lemons and lemon peels should be considered green compost material.
Choose the right citrus: The best citrus for composting is any type of orange. Lemon and grapefruit are also good, but avoid any other types. Cut the peel: Citrus peels can be composted whole, but it'll take much longer. Cutting them into smaller pieces makes them break down much more quickly.
Citrus in Compost and Worms
Though some people think that citrus peels in vermicompost can be harmful to the worms, this is not the case. Citrus peels will not hurt the worms.
Lemons add acidity to the soil, so if your plants require this, lemons can surely help. Take the time to learn about the pH your plant requires, as not all plants will benefit from the acid lemon peels provide. An easy way to add acidity to the soil is to dry the lemon peels and grind them into a powder.
Don't put diseased plants, pet droppings (apart from chook manure), cooking fat, glossy paper, weeds with seeds, treated timber and large branches in your compost bin. Some gardeners say you should avoid adding meat and bones unless you have a larger compost system.
HIGHLY ACIDIC FOODS
Citrus fruit, tomato products and pickled food products can do harm to your compost. High acidity can actually kill the good bacteria that helps break down the material in your compost pile.
Answer: You can add moldy food (vegetables and fruits only) to a backyard composting bin anytime. Mold cells are just one of the many different types of microorganisms that take care of decomposition and are fine in a backyard bin.
You love your lemon tree, with its fragrant blossoms and juicy fruit, but insects also love this citrus. There are a number of lemon tree insect pests. These include relatively harmless bugs, like aphids, and more serious pests, like citrus rust mite, one of the insects that affect lemons rather than foliage.
DON'T add meat scraps, bones, grease, whole eggs, or dairy products to the compost pile because they decompose slowly, cause odors, and can attract rodents. DON'T add pet feces or spent cat liter to the compost pile. DON'T add diseased plant material or weeds that have gone to seed.
Banana peels are a great ingredient for your compost or worm farm, adding lots of nutrients to the organic recycling process.
Fruits. Most fruits—from apples and bananas to pears, grapes, and berries—provide compost with plenty of nutrients that will enrich your soil.
You can use the peels, rinds, and pulp in your compost pile, which is a bonus for those who like using their juicer frequently or enjoy having fresh fruit every day. Citrus peels fit into the “green compost” category, which means it's a source of nitrogen. Citrus fruits do take longer than other fruits to break down.
Can I place used paper towels, napkins, and tissue in my compost cart? Yes, absolutely. These items can be composted even if they are wet or stained with food, vegetable oil, or grease.
EUGENE – Most people shudder when they see maggots in their bin composter or compost pile. Don't be grossed out – they won't hurt you. In fact, these larvae play a role in breaking down and recycling nutrients back into the soil.
Can you compost onions? The answer is a resounding, “yes.” Composted onion waste is just as valuable an organic ingredient as most any with a few caveats.
Throw out moldy or rotten lemons. If the fruit is shriveled, squishy, appears to have a powdered or dusty surface, dark spots or mold, throw them away.
Learning how to store lemons in the freezer can help keep them flavorful for up to four months. When freezing whole lemons, keep them in a food-safe plastic bag, like a Glad® FLEX'N SEAL™ Freezer Bag with as little air as possible. Always wash lemons thoroughly before stashing them away in your freezer.
Turn them into frozen lime cubes: Slice your lime into quarters and again in half. Freeze them on a cookie sheet. Store in a large freezer bag. Any time you want a cold glass of water, just toss a few in the glass and add water.
Let's just start out by saying: putting egg shells in your compost is okay; they are a rich source of calcium and other essential nutrients that plants need.
Green Light: Composting Vegetables and Fruits
Yes and yes. Veggies and fruits are the quintessential compostable foods. You can compost them in any form: scraps and peels, raw or cooked, and even when rotten. Before you toss, make sure you're not wasting these completely edible food scraps.
Some materials compost more easily than others. Materials such as wood and leaves are high in lignin, which is difficult to compost, especially when this material is large in size. Other materials, such as grass clippings and shredded paper, compost a lot faster.
Dairy, Oils, and Fats
Dairy products like milk, sour cream, yogurt, cheese, and butter should not be composted because they also attract pests. The same goes for oils and fats. Processed foods that contain a lot of dairy or fat should also be left out.