A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2004 another compost question

Martha Stewart says not to put fruit peelings/rinds in the compost pile so.... I haven't been. I did a search here and was reading all about compost and it seems as though anything but meat and dairy are permissible. So, are orange and grapefruit peelings ok and are they slow to decompose? Also, I have pecan trees in my new yard. Should I throw in the shells? What about the green hulls the squirrels are digging the nuts out of? As you can tell.... I'm new at making my own dirt!

Thanks, auntnene

Citrus rinds have mild antiseptic/pesticidal properties that can kill germs and molds. Germs and molds are what break down compost.

That said, a few rinds in your pile probably won't hurt anything. If you're worried about it, or if you have bushels of the rinds, just keep them in a separate pile or off to one side, they will weaken in a relatively short time and then you can mix them right in.

you know I put fruit rinds in my compost...though I do chop them up smaller(cantelope,lemon,orange.etc.)and some sites will even list it as something good for the compost.

Hmm,
I too put fruit rinds in my compost. Watermellon, cantelope, kiwi etc. I also put a lot of lettuce, green peppers and onions along with a ton of leaves. I have no idea about the chemical breakdown of my compost. I just go by the old thought that if it has bugs and stinks you need to add brown (leaves, bark, etc.) I've used my compost for the last two years and I don't think I've hurt anything. My compost bin says right on it to not put in meat or bones. I also read no dairy products like cheese or butter (gives the worms tummy aches).

Good luck

--Bunny