Tomatoes need much more nutrition than many other fruits and vegetables to produce a juicy crop. Unfortunately, even a generous amount of potting compost won’t cut it for tomato plants.
If these plants don’t get enough nutrients, the signs of starvation start to show in the grown fruits.
Its fertilizers are full of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which these plants need.
For the green-thumbed saver who eschews consuming store-bought organic fertilizer, making a DIY version promises substantial cash savings and blooming splendor.
One woman was looking for alternative measures for her tomatoes and contacted the Gardening UK Facebook group to dig up some organic wisdom.
Emma Wood enquired: “I’ve been using this tomato feed from Sainsbury’s for a while but now it’s gone. Can I use the organic option instead?”
In a quick draw, banana peels emerged as a top-notch (and potassium-rich) proposition. Jane Wilson said: “Banana peels contain potassium which helps tomatoes grow bigger and juicier fruit.
“If you want to use it on your plants, add it to the compost first or cut it up and bury it around the plant.”
Agreeing, Lisa Marsden added: “Banana peels fertilize the plant and prevent the development of diseases.”
Rosalyn Fair shared her tip, saying: “When I don’t have my Tomorite left, I often use banana peels. I heard it’s the best because it helps tomato plants produce bigger fruit.
Green-fingered Glenn Fields also weighed in, “Even though banana peels don’t contain nitrogen, I still feel it works best in fertilizing the plant.”
He added proudly: “I used them last year and my tomatoes had never grown this big. I hope for the same result this year.”
Meanwhile, Sara Dunster offered her approach: “I like to add one banana peel to each planting hole before I plant the tomatoes. Then in the summer I just add one to two peels around the soil around the plant.
Banana peels have become the secret weapon of savvy gardeners, rich in potassium, which is essential for tomato plants to mix nutrients and water between their cells. This will not only give you more fruit, but fruit that tastes out of this world.
Some gardening enthusiasts cite these kitchen pods as their primary fertilizer material, especially because of their lack of nitrogen. Although nitrogen is crucial for plant growth, an excess can result in a lush bush with more leaves than fruit.
Give your tomatoes a potassium boost with banana peels by burying them nearby for a slow-release feast of goodness. It’s ideal to start this fruity feast when you plant tomatoes, then add another to the menu when they begin to bear fruit.
