[Anton]

Our self-appointed allotment gaffer told me off (nicely) the other day for chucking citrus fruit on the compost.  She told me they smell and are no good for the compost. A was a bit surprised. A trawl through the Internet tells me they attract fruit flies and are highly acidic. Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Anton

[Poppy Rowan]

All I can say is 'oops'. I am guilty of chucking citrus fruit in the compost.  :shock: I just assumed it would break down like everything else.
I haven't noticed any fruit flies or bad small though if its any consolation  

Poppy

[mushroom]

Our self-appointed allotment gaffer told me off (nicely) the other day for chucking citrus fruit on the compost.  She told me they smell and are no good for the compost. A was a bit surprised. A trawl through the Internet tells me they attract fruit flies and are highly acidic. Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Anton

Citrus is acidic, the more acidic the better it preserves, or keeps. Oil in citrus skins is, I think, antibacterial. This is precisely the opposite of what you want to happen in your compost heap.  :shock:

[muntjac]

the oil in citrus fruits is unfortunatly not antibacterial it is a parrafin type oil if you tell the growers in belize not to use the skins they will laugh at you .... its all useful organic matter . fear not the lady gaffer  

[Trillium]

All my citrus goes into the compost and when it's done, you can't tell the difference. On occasion we find a forgotten bit of lemon in the fridge covered in fuzz so there goes the theory of it not composting.
Personally, I find when people say something doesn't work, then it's only because that person really doesn't like that particular item.

[mushroom]

On occasion we find a forgotten bit of lemon in the fridge covered in fuzz so there goes the theory of it not composting.

well, everything rots... e v e n t u a l l y. But here we are talking in the context of a compost heap. Even granite will rot, we're not about to compost it, are we? I know that eventually, a halved lemon in the fridge will fuzz up. But are lemons known for rotting quickly or efficiently?. Is citric acid not a preservative?
 

Personally, I find when people say something doesn't work, then it's only because that person really doesn't like that particular item.

Actually, I rather like lemons. I am growing lemon basil on the allotment, and  I shall have a slice of lemon in my G&T when I get home!  

[mushroom]

the oil in citrus fruits is unfortunatly not antibacterial

On this occasion you appear to be incorrect:

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/6/39

" In the present study, cinnamon, lime, geranium, rosemary, orange, lemon
and clove oils were found to be equally effective against both gram-positive
and gram-negative organisms."

[Sally A]

Next door dug his excess apples into the ground last year, and the acidity had a detrimental effect on his onion sets this year, they were about half the size.

[mkhenry]

the oil in citrus fruits is unfortunatly not antibacterial it is a parrafin type oil if you tell the growers in belize not to use the skins they will laugh at you .... its all useful organic matter . fear not the lady gaffer  

Munty is spot on................Try this. Peel a fresh orange(the fresher the better).Take a chunk of peel bend it so the the pith is on the inside and the orange skin is on the outside.Light a match and hold it a little away from the peel,and squeeze.A little spray of juice will squirt out and on reaching the flame will ignite.You can run a car very well on pure concentrated orange juice.The trouble is it would cost  around £50 a litre.


There are other fruits etc that will do this.The best is a simple peanut.Stick one on a cocktail stick and light it.Makes a great little candle.



Please be very careful :cry: if you try the above. :cry:

[WG.]

The best is a simple peanut

The diesel engine was originally developed to run on peanut oil

[mushroom]

Completely agree that various veg oils make good fuel.. but the OP's question was about suitability of citrus peelings on the compost heap

[deneview]

i cant imagine how the small quantity of citrus fruit skins from the average house would have any significant impact on your compost, esp if using big pallet sized compost bins, if they have not rotted throw them back in for another yr. better on my heap than in the landfill,

[WG.]

Completely agree that various veg oils make good fuel.. but the OP's question was about suitability of citrus peelings on the compost heap

So ... this is the very first thread which has meandered off subject then!  

[mushroom]

So ... this is the very first thread which has meandered off subject then!  

LOL of course, err  

[Trillium]

Composting is essentially rotting down of plant matter, but some items do take longer. citrus peels may be a bit slower, but 'finished' compost is usually sieved before use to take out unfinished items to recompost.  I certainly wouldn't bury citrus, or even those apples, directly into the ground, which is why I have a line of compost bins for various items like certain kitchen wastes which are slower vs the bins for leaves and green matter. Whatever turns your crank, mushroom