how much lemon on the compost heap?

[queen of the cobs]

I'm a bit mad on lemons, I get through about 10 a week (lemon and rosemary roast potatoes tonight - yum) but am a bit worried that 10 lemons a week(squeezed admittedly) might be too acidic on my compost? Has anyone got any knowledge in this area?

[rustylady]

Seems a lot to me, depends I suppose on what it is mixed with. Personally I prefer not to put citrus peel in the compost bin.

[goddess]

i heard it make compost acidic which is apparently not very good(don't know why !!!).i put the used halves in the dishwasher,it gets rid of any unwanted smeel especially fish.g

[Alice]

Goddess, you don't want the compost acidic unless you want it for growing rhododendrons and plants in that group. Most plants want the soil neutral and others in the brassica group, lavender and alpines like it slightly alkaline - so best not to make the compost acidic as it limits it's uses.
We learn on here everyday. I'd never have thought of washing the citrus peel in the dishwasher

[Madasafish]

I put onions and all citrus fruit on our compost bins (dalek). Never had any complaints from flowers or fruit and veg and it all rots down..

[Flummery]

I'm afraid I put them in too. I don't use that many though! Maybe 2/3 citrus fruits per week.

[Dobby]

I thought it siad no citcus as well in the leflet we got with our compost bin?
the same as no cooked food

[pigletwillie]

I eat oranges for Britain and we use lemons to boot, all of the peel goes into the compost bin as does rhubarb leaves which are also acidic. As we have lots of Blueberries I have a ph kit to check the soil and tested our compost bin contents.

Result, well unless you eat many dozens of lemons or oranges a week, throw them in the compost bin with impunity. Oh and we do have lots of worms in the bins, they just dont like the citrus peel or rhubarb leaves but then they dont like onions skins or leek trimmings either.

[dan1979]

Is it worth using citrus peel for my blueberries?

Maybe a seperate smaller compost bin?

[eskymo]

My compost bin is teaming with worms and I chuck in tons of orange and lemon skin in every week. I tend to cut every thing up into tiny bits before it goes into the dalek which I think helps...I've had no complaints from my plants - my garden is looking really healthy this year. I harvested some compost recently and mixed it with top soil and sand and have been using it in the greenhouse to start seedlings off as I didn't have any compost - everything is doing really well....so I wouldn't worry about putting them in the compost - but everything in moderation - make sure you have lots of other stuff too. We go through a load of coffee grounds and maybe they balance out the orange/lemon thing...who knows.