Roses can be a beautiful addition to a garden or home, with their bright flowers quickly becoming a centrepiece. But with the flowers being such a standout feature, it is important to give them proper care. And it turns out there is a simple way to make their flowers bigger and healthier and it all comes down to one kitchen scrap.
While many jump to compost or store-bought plant food, they can often set you back a pretty penny, while a humble banana peel could have a similar effect. It might sound too good to be true, but the leftovers from your breakfast could actually lead to some of the best autumn blooms your garden has ever seen — and it’s incredibly easy to do.
The science behind the peel’s blooming power is relatively simple and it all comes down to potassium. The chemical that helps to relax our muscles and aid recovery also works wonders on roses – and bananas are particularly rich in nutrients.
The essential nutrient is vital for flower development while also prompting stronger stems, making an altogether more resilient plant that can power through the sometimes damp autumn weather.
While nutrients like nitrogen may create healthier leaves and phosphorus helps to create strong roots, potassium is responsible for making the flowers pop into those vibrant colours roses are known for.
Posting to the Gardening UK Facebook group, one green-fingered commenter shared their secret technique and exactly how to get the best from bananas, posting: “Dig banana skins into the ground near the roots, or blast banana skins with water in a food processor to make a thick dark mess and pour around the roots.
“Prune away badly affected stems. I have a huge climbing rose on the side of my house and thought I had lost it to a black spot last year but did this last July and it gave me the best late autumn blooms ever, and this year it has been fine so far.”
If you’re not wanting to get your hands dirty, another method of giving your roses a boost could come from banana peel tea.
Simply soak some banana peels in a bucket of warm water for a few days before using it to water your roses. The water will absorb the nutrients from the peel, acting as make-shift potassium plant food.
For the best timing, you’ll want to start incorporating the banana’s skins this month, to give the plant enough time to store up the nutrients and create a big and bright autumn bloom come September.
