Peels of bananas are excellent for the plants you have, at least this is according to the internet. You can put some of them in the soil at the bottom when you plant roses. They can be added to water and allowed to sit for several days to make a tea made from banana peels, an excellent fertilizer for indoor plants like cucumbers.
Dry them to an opaque leather, then crush them into the banana skin powder, which is fantastic for gardening. I’ve even come across a website that has fertilizer spray from these.
The consumption of banana peels is popular and has been reported to have numerous health benefits and may even improve the appearance of teeth.
Let’s look at the real-world benefits of fruit peels for plants. Are they more beneficial than an additional source of organic matter?
Banana Peels for Plants – The Claims
This blog began after watching a YouTube video claiming banana peels had an NPK range of between 0-25 and 42.
If you come across claims like this, it’s imperative to give them an initial sniff test for real. Does it sound reasonable? Does it appear plausible? If not, make a run for the hills, as other advice is questionable.
A banana peel is a part of the plant. A plant requires protein for its function. All living creatures require it. Protein is nitrogen-containing. The zero number for nitrogen is completely absurd. There is no living thing, and any plant material has a nitrogen content of zero.
All living things contain water, and they are a great water source. Humans are mostly water, like plants. If a banana is composed of 80% water, how could the potassium content be at 42 percent? This is about 80 percent.
If you didn’t even know the 80% moisture level, The above NPK number suggests that 67% or 1/3 of the banana peel is potash and phosphate. Does this make any sense? NO!
It’s not the only website that claims that the potassium level was 42. That is absurd.
Also Read: How Often to Water Green Onions?
The Question to Ask
Organic matter of all kinds is beneficial for soils and plants. They all serve as the plant with carbon and nutrients as organic matter is decomposed.
The key question is: are banana peels healthier than other organic matter. Are they able to provide unique beneficial chemical compounds? If so, then they could be Superfood for plants.
Vague Claims for Banana Peels
Do a little Googling, and you’ll find various claims that state that banana peels are of “high” nutritional value. There are even claims that peels have more nutritional value than fruit. It sounds plausible, but you might have observed that there aren’t any numbers in these assertions.
What does “high” mean? What is the highest value relative to other organic things? They are just clever words that attempt to make you believe in fiction without any numbers.
Dry or Wet Weight?
When numbers are given, there’s an issue in the data. Does this come from dry or wet weight? If someone claims that banana peel contains 42 percent potassium, is it an average wet or dry peel? This is an important point because most of a banana’s peel’s contents are water.
Chemists circumvent this issue by declaring chemical content in dry weights. However, many sources use the numbers and, if they attempt to find them and then report them as wet weights, that overstates the value by an enormous amount.
Are Bananas High in Potassium?
Actually, not really. Bananas are higher in potassium than other foods like meat and grains. However, all vegetables and fruits contain more potassium, “there is nothing unique about bananas. Potatoes, tomatoes and beets are also rich in potassium and are often higher in potassium than the average banana.”
One cup of chocolate milk has the same quantity of potassium as the banana.
Magical Properties of Banana Peels
There are also a few vague claims about the other substances in banana peels, which may benefit plants. However, I could find none of them which could be examined.
There is a myriad of assertions for the health of our bodies, which include things like antioxidants. However, an examination of the facts at the research shows that the evidence isn’t in place for the advantages of these substances, at least not yet.
Banana peels are another source of organic matter from plants.
Banana Peel Tea
Some suggest steeping the banana’s peels into the water by using hot water or simply letting them rest for some time in the sunlight. You might be interested to know about sunlight need for your cucumber plant.
There is only a small amount of decomposition throughout this process. This implies that the bulk of the nutrients are kept inside the peels.
Potassium is absorbed from organic matter faster because it isn’t chemically bound. Banana peels have higher levels of potassium. So tea may add potassium, but it’s not much else.
Beware of scams made by the tea-related assertions for plants.
Banana Peels for Roses
It’s a popular tip. Put some banana peels into the hole before planting roses. Some choose to cut them into tiny pieces.
Why only roses? Wouldn’t it be the best advice for any plant if this were good advice? Perhaps it’s because people love bananas and roses? Or is it garlic?
The banana peels rot, and they transform into black-white mush. Is it hard to imagine this as a good idea for young roots?
Look at the NPK. It’s extremely high in potassium concerning nitrogen and phosphate. This isn’t a great combination for plants. To make up for this, some people use eggshells! We’re aware that eggshells won’t break down in most soils. How can including calcium help balance the issue?
The idea was probably born out of the belief that bananas contain an extremely high potassium level and the widespread belief that potassium can stimulate roots, which isn’t the case. Based on this false information, is it logical that the peels of bananas are good for roots and roses on flowers?
This is an absurd idea.
Bury Them Around Plants
If you do not include them in the planter, dig your roses’ soil, add the peels, and fill them in with soil. The roots grow on the top couple of inches of soil. Digging around the roots of the shrubs is not a wise idea.
Also Read: How to: Growing Leeks from Scraps?
Few Important Cucumber Plant Caring Tips
With numerous advantages, why not test this for yourself? Here are the steps you’ll need to start in cultivating cucumbers vertically.
Choosing the Container:
The first step is to choose the proper container. The container should support the vines of the plant and the support beams or trellises. So, choose one that is deep enough. A container that is 12-14 inches deep can be used.
Plant Support:
It’s time to pick the appropriate foundation for this plant. It is possible to purchase fencing made of wire mesh, trellis, or even garden nets. Be sure the support is between 5 and 6 feet high, and it is about 6 inches over the soil. This will allow you to have enough room to grow comfortably and to weed the plants as needed.
Get Planting:
It’s now time to start planting! Plant the garden about eight inches deep, and then place it over with healthy compost. After that, adjust the trellis and support once more and if needed. After that, you can place the cucumber seeds approximately 1 inch deep in the soil. Allow each row 10-12 inches to spread out. Then, sprinkle the seeds with mulch.
Helping plants expand:
When the plant starts to sprout, you’ll need to aid it by growing around the support beam. Assist the tendrils in curving around the beam of support gently. If you believe that the vines may require more support, you could tie their support to it until they’re used to the idea of growing that way. Make sure your knots don’t get too tight, and there’s enough space for plants to develop.
Watering Cucumbers:
Also, ensure that you water the plant often to keep the soil damp. If you reside in an extremely dry area, you should take extra care to make sure that the plant doesn’t die. Keep adding mulch as the plant grows but be careful not to over-fertilize.
What Should You Do With Banana Peels?
The banana peels could contain a psychoactive substance, and inhaling them can cause a “high” or a feeling of relaxation. It could be an old myth connected to the song of the same name from 1966, “Mellow Yellow” by Donovan.
Some consume them as an edible dessert or smoothie drink, which is fine. Vegan food blogger’s recipe calls for the banana peel to make a ‘pulled pork substitute.’ I do not think so!
Banana peels are another kind of organic matter made from plants.
Incorporate them into the compost pile or scatter them on the ground to be decomposed. They can improve the quality of the soil and the plants; however, they’re not superfoods.
Do not get enticed by all the bizarre ideas available on the internet. If you enjoyed this article, please share this post with your friends.