Roses are a classic garden staple, providing a pop of colour throughout the summer months, but as autumn approaches, one expert has shared a simple hack to ensure the blooms keep coming
Grow the best roses ever(Image: A. Martin UW Photography via Getty Images)
Roses, with their vibrant blooms, can be a striking addition to any garden or home, often becoming the centrepiece. However, Devon gardeners are being warned that these captivating flowers need proper care to flourish. Intriguingly, there’s a simple trick using a common kitchen waste item that can enhance their size and health.
While many might opt for compost or commercial plant food, which can be expensive, an ordinary banana peel can have a similar beneficial effect. It may sound too good to be true, but your breakfast leftovers could potentially produce some of the most impressive autumn blossoms your garden has ever seen – and it’s incredibly easy to do.
The science behind the peel’s bloom-boosting power is quite straightforward and comes down to potassium. This chemical, known for its muscle-relaxing and recovery properties in humans, also works wonders on roses – and bananas are particularly nutrient-rich, according to the Express.
This essential nutrient plays a vital role in flower development and promotes stronger stems, resulting in a more robust plant capable of withstanding the occasionally damp autumn weather. While nutrients like nitrogen contribute to healthier leaves and phosphorus aids in developing strong roots, potassium is key in producing the vibrant colours that roses are renowned for.
(Image: Getty)
A garden enthusiast revealed a simple yet effective trick for healthier plants in the Gardening UK Facebook group, advising fellow green-fingered individuals: “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.”
Banana peel tea also presents a cleaner alternative for those not keen on getting their hands dirty while nourishing roses. This natural fertiliser is made by steeping banana peels in warm water for a few days and then using the potassium-rich liquid to feed your roses. It serves as a homemade plant food abundant in potassium.
In preparation for a resplendent autumn floral show, integrate banana skins into your gardening regimen now; doing so gives your plants enough time to uptake these nutrients, paving the way for an impressive bloom come September.