Q: A friend says to feed ferns with bananas. Is this true?

A: The peels provide no more benefits to ferns than coffee grounds, carrot shreds, apple skins or any other source of easily decomposable organic matter. All of these are beneficial because they contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium but banana peels aren’t markedly superior to any. Chop your banana peels into small pieces to scatter under your plants so they will decompose faster and add what few nutrients they contain to the soil.