Tomatoes are one of the easiest crops to grow at home, but the right fertiliser can take them to the next level – and this one kitchen scrap will help do just that
Tomatoes are a favourite with home gardeners for their simplicity to cultivate, but the secret to harvesting plumper and more succulent tomatoes lies in using the correct fertiliser.
Potassium is the magical component that can boost tomato production, improving the fruit’s colour and flavour, and even extending its shelf life after harvest.
Gardening expert Katie Femia, who established The Homespun Hydrangea, has shared her top tip for a homemade tomato plant enhancer – a DIY banana peel tea recipe. It comes after Brits are told to never put one banned item in garden bins for risk of punishment.
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Femia explained: “Banana peels contain 42 percent potassium which is one of the major components of fertiliser. Why not feed this much-needed potassium to your plants via banana peels? It is so much simpler than buying bags of fertiliser from the store.”
How to create your own banana peel tea
According to Katie, making this natural and homemade fertiliser is effortless, requiring nothing more than “basic kitchen scraps and a little water.”
She emphasised: “You will love how easy it is to turn your leftover banana peels into a nutrient-rich food for your plants. Tomatoes especially go wild over this DIY fertiliser recipe.”
What you’ll need
- A jar with a lid
- Banana peels
- Water
Begin by giving the banana peels a thorough rinse and place them into a glass jar until it’s roughly half full.
Top up the jar completely with tap water and secure it with the lid screwed on tightly. Finally, allow the mixture to rest for five to seven days so the nutrients can completely absorb into the water.
Your homemade fertiliser will then be ready for use. Simply pour the liquid onto the base of your tomato plant and scatter the soft peels into the soil where they’ll naturally decompose.
Tomato plants should receive feeding approximately every 10 to 14 days, and this clever fertiliser can be prepared repeatedly for more abundant harvests and to sustain plant wellbeing, reports the Express.
Katie offered her expertise: “Because banana peels contain calcium, they can help prevent end rot to the plant. The nutrients in the peels will encourage the tomato plants to flower and grow as much fruit as possible.”
She continued: “This is a wonderful banana peel water fertiliser recipe for anyone who wants to give their tomato plants a boost to get more bigger and tastier fruit.”
Epsom salts are another great way to enhance your tomatoes. Containing both magnesium and sulphur, epsom salts can be beneficial for tomatoes, peppers and even roses.
Magnesium serves as a crucial component for photosynthesis and encourages larger foliage development, meaning there’s increased energy available for additional blooms and produce.