Where did you come up with banana peels, and how are you grinding them? My generation just tried smoking them, but that's another story...

I've heard of using them around roses for the potassium.

I just baked them for a while on really low heat until semi crunchy. Then I blended it until semi powdery.

I think that's how we prepared them back in the 60's too... Who knew you could use it for fertilizer??

Gabe, might want to watch using coffee grinds on Iris. They are highly acidic and the also don't compose super quickly in the dirt so they leave a long lasting acid in the soil. Not all Iris like acid. Your best using coffee grinds on hydrangeas to change there colors.

I didn't know any of them liked coffee grinds honestly. I just felt like playing Dr. Frankenstein

Japanese Iris and louisanna Iris like acid. Most bearded Iris don't care for overly acidic soil to much but I know people that grow Iris in acidic soil but I would not say they multiple as quickly or grow as well but that's in my tempeture zone also.

Do worms get addicted to caffeine too?

Ask the next worm you see.

Rob, They can do get addicted to coffee. They do the wiggle dance faster and if they get to much coffee, they do the dance with party favors and disco lights.

I read some where they don't like onions. I also wonder if the person writing the article asked them.

Would a 5-10-5 fertilizer be good for irises?

janwax said:Would a 5-10-5 fertilizer be good for irises?

If you test your soil, you can use the fertilizer that will support your soil's needs. If you don't, you just end up putting things in the soil that aren't needed, and they leach into the ground water supply. A plant can only use so much, any extra is just a waste of money.

Thanks Tom. When taking a soil sample, should you take
it from a part of the garden that hasn't had any amendments added?
Does a do-it-yourself kit work very well?

I don't know about California, but here the county agents can help with soil samples and they aren't very expensive. They come back with specific instructions to what is needed, based on what you are growing. You most likely amend the soil with compost or some other organic materials before you plant, so I'd test it after that was added, however it takes a while for that to get broken down, so I'd take a few samples from the beds that have been around a while and see what's up. I've never used the soil test kits. I don't think they test for anything but Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Oxide, and you don't know about some of the trace minerals. (at least that's what I think, maybe someone who has used them should weigh in on this. )

Going back to growing in acid soil. In New York we had to add lime. No need for that in Utah!

totally agree with Tom. Call your County Extension office and they will guide you on what/how to collect the samples. If your pH is off it 'locks up' the nutrients in the soil from the plants. They may be bathed in fertilizer and still not have access to it. Putting unneeded fertilizer (unless it is organic matter) on soil before you know what you need is wasteful and bad for the environment. note: putting organic matter on your soil before it is composted and broken down, such as coffee grounds and even using Epson salts, can change your soil. Know what you need before you feed.