Stop throwing your banana peels in the bin – a gardening expert has revealed a genius way to cut down on food waste and reuse them to help your garden flourish
Most of us toss away banana skins as soon as we’ve eaten them – but an expert has revealed a fantastic way they can be used to boost plants.
According to Waste Managed, the UK throws out approximately 9.5 million tonnes of food every year, with consumer behaviour being one of the biggest contributors. But, in many cases, these food scraps can actually be used to benefit the eco-system. In a TikTok video, gardening expert Simon Akeroyd revealed: “No need to throw away banana skins. Instead make free plant feed.”
Bananas and their skins are incredibly rich in potassium – an essential nutrient for most plants. Potassium helps with a variety of plant processes, including growth, flowering and strengthening cell walls.
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Equally, potassium can also help strengthen plants against assaults from pests and diseases, extending their overall lifespan and improving their appearance.
Simon explained: “Banana skins are full of nutrients. So either add the skins to your compost, or chop them up and place in a recycled jar.”
If you choose to place the skins in a jar, he advised that you should leave it outside to collect rainwater. Alternatively, you can also fill it with tap water.
You should then leave the skins soaked in water for a couple of days. During this time, the skins will start to decompose and partially ferment.
“This natural liquid-feed is high in nutrients and will boost the health of your plants,” Simon added. This is because, over time, the nutrients from the peels are absorbed into the water.
In his caption, he added: “You can either dilute the concentrate (add a splash into your watering can the next time you’re watering the plants) or use a concentrate for a real nutrient boost, depending on the strength of the feed.”
When watering, you should pour the liquid around the base of the plant. This helps deliver nutrients directly to the roots, where they can be absorbed efficiently.
Simon also shared that he likes to use the liquid fertiliser on his coffee and avocado plants. Both of these flora require high amounts of potassium to thrive.
Other popular plants that can benefit from a potassium boost include tomatoes, potatoes, grapes and raspberries. Equally, flowers which prefer acidic soil, like rhododendrons and camellias, can also benefit from a dose of potassium.
Although, be careful not to overfeed your plants potassium. Excess potassium can prevent plants from taking up other important nutrients, such as magnesium, iron, zinc, and calcium.
