Gardeners urged to use banana peels to make plants flourish this summer

As we head into the , gardeners up and down the UK will be on the look out for ways to make their plants flourish. Experts are unusually recommending banana peels as a method to give a natural boost.

Banana peels usually end up the bin but gardeners are urging people to keep hold of them this summer. They are packed with nutrients and can help root development, flowering and fruiting. Experts at have explained how to best use banana peels in your garden.

Banana peels take up to two years to break down so it's not recommended to put them in your garden waste bin. However, they're ideal for helping to nourish plants as they're rich in potassium, phosphorus and calcium.

Morris Hankinson, director of , said: "Banana peels are really useful in the garden and can provide a natural way to feed plants. So, rather than putting them into your food waste, you really should try using some of these easy ways to help garden plants."

As banana peels don't break down easily on their own, Morris recommends making compost using them as they are a great alternative to synthetic fertilisers.

He explained: "Composting banana peels is the easiest way to get rid of them and also helps your compost pile break down faster and improve the compost.

"A good mix of green and brown materials in the bin will, over time, create a good compost for use in the garden. Banana peels, especially chopped up, are a great addition to the bin along with other organic waste."

There are other ways to use banana peels in your garden, including chopping them up and burying them.

Morris said: "Bananas mainly provide potassium, so they shouldn't be used as a complete fertiliser, but for plants that like potassium, such as roses and tomatoes, they can be useful.

"This means that banana peels can be chopped up and placed just a few inches under the soil near plants needing some potassium, and the nutrients will be released."