Tomato plant owners urged to add 1 kitchen scrap item to the soil to grow better fruit (original) (raw)

A kitchen scrap item makes an excellent natural fertiliser for tomato plants, providing potassium and key nutrients that may help boost fruit production.

Plants need substantial quantities of nutrients to flourish and thrive, yet soil frequently fails to deliver what's required for optimal growth. Tomatoes, specifically, are notorious for being demanding feeders, which explains why fertilisers are typically vital.

The best fertilisers for tomatoes tend to be organic products that improve soil quality by breaking down slowly. The crucial nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, often referred to as the N-P-K ratio.

One particular kitchen waste item that many discard or add to compost heaps has become increasingly popular as a garden fertiliser, thanks to its ready availability and rich potassium levels - banana skins.

Gardening enthusiast Caitlin, who operates under the name Tomato Queen Garden Tips on TikTok, has demonstrated how she utilises banana skins to cultivate superior cherry tomatoes, noting this technique works equally well on any variety of tomato plant.

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The gardener captioned the video, "Easy gardening for beginners. DIY banana peel fertiliser for thriving cherry tomatoes. Start your green journey today with this simple garden hack."

Caitlin began the clip by displaying a jar containing banana peel water and saying, "If you want the best tomatoes, you need what's in this jar because it's going to make your tomatoes grow like crazy."

Banana water is liquid infused with banana skins to produce a homemade plant feed. It's comparable to compost tea, albeit without the genuine composting stage. Discussing the banana peel water, she said: "It's perfect for adding potassium to your plants and your soil."

Potassium is essential as it aids photosynthesis, helps transport water and nutrients between cells, encourages flowering and fruit development, and reinforces the stem.

Furthermore, banana peels contain other important nutrients including calcium, manganese, sodium, magnesium, and sulphur.

To create the banana peel water, Caitlin advises taking a large jar, filling it with water, placing a banana peel inside and storing it in the fridge for one week.

After the banana peel water is prepared, pour the mixture around the base of the tomato plant, which will help to "get your plant thriving and producing [fruit]".

There are several alternatives to banana water if you're looking to give your tomato plants a nutritious boost. Composting your banana peels is believed to offer a more immediate advantage for your plants than creating banana water.

If you're drawn to the concept of applying liquid fertiliser to your plants, consider making compost tea. This involves taking mature compost and soaking it in water to draw out the compost's nutrients and beneficial microorganisms.