Latest news with #WasteManaged
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to save banana skins and soak them in water immediately
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. 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.
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Orchids bloom like clockwork when gardeners add this 90p kitchen ingredient
If your orchids aren't blooming in time for summer, don't worry. Simply adding this one cheap kitchen scrap to the soil can see them blossom over again throughout the year Orchids are well-loved for their gorgeous sweet-smelling pink blossoms – but it can be frustrating when they don't bloom as often as you like. Fortunately, there's one common kitchen scrap that you can add to help them blossom more frequently. There are many different tips and tricks that gardeners can use to help their plants grow. However, few things are better for the planet than utilising food waste. According to Waste Managed, the UK wastes a shock 9.5 million tonnes of food every year – the highest in Europe. So the next time you're about to toss away this common kitchen scrap, save it for your garden instead. Olivia Liang is a gardening expert and author of the novel 'Gardening Against Time'. She revealed that banana peels will help orchids bloom routinely rather than just once a year, as previously reported by The Mirror. She said: "Believe it or not, banana peels can be a terrific organic fertiliser to help your orchids bloom! Who would have thought that something we consider garbage has such great value for our plants?' She continued: 'When I first heard this idea, I was sceptical too. But after trying it myself, I'm a believer. My orchids used to bloom so sporadically, maybe once or twice a year if I was lucky. But ever since switching to banana peels as a fertilizer, they bloom like clockwork several times a year.' This is because banana peels are extremely rich in potassium. Potassium is one of the core nutrients that plants, including orchids, need to grow healthily. It's particularly helpful as we we enter the summer season, as it also helps plants retain water. This in turn makes them far more resistant to drought. Aside from potassium, the peel contains a healthy dose of calcium and magnesium. These minerals help to promote root growth and assist with photosynthesis. Banana peel also rich in sulphur, which helps plants develop strong roots and prevent pest infestations. This includes attacks from aphids, small sap-sucking insects that can stunt plant growth, damage leaves and even spread diseases like turnips yellows virus. When placing the banana skins in your garden, ensure that you put them in a single layer on the soil. Also take care to avoid touching the plant roots. If you pile them on top of each other, it can take them too long to break down. This will leave an unsightly (and stinking) mess in your garden. An alternative is to grind the peel into a fine powder using a blender. The powder will act as an effective slow release fertilizer and will avoid ruining your lawn. The best part is that bananas can be picked up for incredibly cheap. Sainsbury's sells loose fair trade bananas for just 90p.
