Summer is just around the corner and those with green fingers can look forward to tending to the garden in warmer weather.
One essential gardening task is keeping plants regularly fed to help them bloom. While there are plenty of fertilisers for sale in garden centres, these can be pricey and may release nutrients too quickly, resulting in fertiliser burns.
Instead, using banana peels to feed plants proves them with essential nutrients so they "thrive", the Express reports. One Gardening expert has explained how the fruit skin can be made into inexpensive home made plant fertiliser, while also reducing food waste.
Chris Bonnett from plant retailer Gardening Express said: “Plants need a plethora of nutrients and a bit of care to survive. Some fertilisers and repellents can be costly when bought, but nature has many of the answers if you have a little bit of time. Plants can start to die when they lack the proper nutrients it needs to live, and then can be upsetting for plant owners, especially when they live in the house.
“Homemade plant food is an easy and inexpensive way to feed plants without accidentally harming them or breaking the bank.”
Banana peels can be used in the garden because they are extremely high in potassium, which most plants will appreciate. The expert recommended throwing the banana peel right onto the soil around garden plants, including roses which will benefit from the fruit.
Watering the soil thoroughly afterwards will aid in the breakdown of the peels and will support new growth. Chris added: “The extra potassium will make your plants stronger and healthier, giving them more energy to fight off pests.”
The fruit is also packed with phosphorus which is great for encouraging flowering in certain plant species. It can also help aid with pollination and seed germination, perfect to use in the garden at this time of year.
Make sure to chop up the banana peels into smaller pieces which can help to trigger the composting process, releasing lots of vitamins and minerals. Gardeners could also grind up the peels to make a fertiliser which can be added around plants.
If gardeners don’t have garden plants to enjoy the banana peel, it is recommended to put it into the compost bin, to avoid waste. This will also help to improve the “richness” of the compost for all garden plants.
The expert continued: “Citrus peels are high in nitrogen, sulphur, magnesium and calcium, all of which give leafy plants a quick pick me up. Orange peel is the best choice, as it also acts as a natural pest repelling spray, which keeps aphids away.”
Citrus peels can also help to improve the soil health of a plant which will encourage strong growth. Instead of throwing away green tea leaves after they are used to make the tea, they can be beneficial for plants.
They are packed with iron, which is great for plants who need lots of it to survive. For those who drink coffee instead of tea, dry coffee grounds are “perfect” for fertilising the soil and providing plants with antioxidants. They are also packed with potassium, phosphor and nitrogen.
Chris added: “However, make sure that the grounds are dry, wet ones can cause fungus to grow, which will harm plants.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our newsletter here.
