Orange peel in compost

[Pompeylottie]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on this site. I have started to collect the fruit peelings from the office where I work , mainly apple, banana and orange peel and tea bags - over a bucket full a week. I have heard somewhere that orange peel is not too good for the compost - Would it be okay to compost the office stuff in a separate bin and use only for acid loving fruit like the cranberries and blueberries, or is it actually okay to mix in with general compost?
Advice very welcome please.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the vine. sorry, can't help with your query but I am sure someone will be along soon to advise. I suppose it would depend what proportion of the compost bin contents were fruit peelings really though.

[lainey lou]

Hello, welcome to the vine Pompey.
I think the reason it is not recommended to add too much citrus peel to your compost heap is because it will make your compost more acidic, which as you said is what blueberries etc like. I think Shirley is right, that it would depend on the proportions and what else you were adding to your compost.
There are some excellent compost people here on the vine so I,m sure you'll get some great advice!
Have you got a plot?

[gardenplot]

Hi Pompeylottie, And welcome
I have always put orange peel and other fruit peel/skin in my compost tubs
never heard not to.
I was told not to put Cooked food, Meat, fish pet poo. ect in

[Pompeylottie]

My husband and I have 3 half plots, we started with 2 half plots 5 years ago now and very quickly got completely hooked, and took a third plot on when it became vacant next to us. Just a few years later it's not so easy as there are waiting lists so we were lucky. I cant imagine now how I used to fill evenings and weekends !

[lainey lou]

I know the feeling! You think you'll pop to the plot for an hour or so and end up staying all day! - and I only have a 1/2 plot!

[terrier]

Hi Pompeylottie,welcome to the vine. I think it's a case of too much of any one thing is not good. You need a good balance of green material (your fruit peelings) and brown material (paper and card,leaves, garden waste, straw etc). Google 'home composting' or some such and you'll find lots of ideas.

[bluemoon]

We have always put fruit peelings in. I think it's wormeries where citrus peel is a big no-no, due to the worms preferring slightly alkaline conditions which is why they sell a special lime mix for these.

[cottage garden]

Adding citrus peel is very small amounts to the compost is fine but in large amounts will turn your compost too acidic.
Making a separate compost for blueberries as you suggested is perfect. You will be creating their perfect environment.

[Paul Wagland]

I've always put citrus peel in my compost - just not too much in one go. Give it a good mix-up now and then as it rots and you should be fine.

[pigletwillie]

You need to put loads and loads of citrus peel into your compost heap to make any real differance to the acidity of it. Were talking buckets full at a time. Its another old gardeners humbug.

[veg4681]

Cheers guys, thanks for the clarification. I had been guiltily filling my compost bin with orange peel (esp during Christmas) but common sense had always told me it couldn't hurt. Not eating any more oranges though .

[Hans Mum]

welcome from me too &thanks for asking the question i always thought you shouldnt but now know i can

[bluemoon]

It's probably also worth saying here that you can compost rhubarb leaves too. The compounds are poisonous to us, not to the soil, and anyway they largely break down during the composting process.

[Madasafish]

Our worms eat citrus: they have to.
Puts hairs on their chests.