A gardening expert has shared that banana peels are the secret to beautiful blooming roses, as the skin contains potassium which is an important nutrient flowers need
As the summer season arrives, garden enthusiasts eagerly anticipate a vibrant display in their gardens, and one expert insists bananas could be the key to luscious, blooming roses. Gardening authority Dr Andrew Plasz from the American Rose Society has revealed that simply burying banana peels in the soil around rose bushes contributes to “produce strong stems and better blooms.”
Dr Plasz advises: “Don’t throw away that banana peel, it could help you grow better roses. The ubiquitous banana… can make a wonderful supplement to your rose fertilisation program.” The peels of bananas are laden with potassium – a crucial nutrient for flowers which not only enhances the quality and number of blossoms but also fortifies against disease.
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During the warm months, it’s paramount for plants to receive ample potassium, as it aids in water uptake, ensuring the plants stay hydrated amidst dry or drought conditions.
However, bananas don’t just stop at potassium; they are rich in other flower-friendly nutrients like phosphorus and calcium, which promote robust root development and stronger cell walls, respectively, contributing to healthier flowering.
How to use banana peels as a fertiliser for roses
It’s straightforward: keep your banana peels until they darken and desiccate fully. After they’ve dried, crush them up, pop them into paper envelopes, label with a date, and remember not to exceed three banana peels per envelope.
Dr Plasz has shared an innovative and eco-friendly gardening tip that involves turning banana peels into rose fertiliser: “These crisp, black, dried peels are easily broken by crushing them with your hands into several pieces of paper. The crushed peels are stored in a sealed envelope and marked with the date.”
In an effort to upcycle readily discardable items, Dr Plasz also recommends saving postage-paid return envelopes from unwanted mail to repurpose them for storing the fertiliser.
He enthused: “All you’re doing is spending a little time and putting to good use two things you would normally throw away – peels and postage-paid return envelopes.”
To utilise the homemade rose fertiliser, Dr Plasz advises starting with the envelope marked with the earliest date, burying it near the roots of the rose bush, then watering deeply so it can gradually break down, reports the Express.
Dr Plasz credits this simple method with his success in cultivating award-winning roses, boasting: “For over 40 years now, I have been practising this.
“My garden grows some very good roses amongst the 105 bushes, allowing me to be somewhat competitive at the district and national level.”
His growing regimen includes the strategic application of banana peel fertiliser, which he jovially suggests everyone try: “A big part of that is the fertilization program and the use of banana peels. Why don’t you give it a try? I think you will find it ap-peel-ing!”