Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Bananas and tomatoes

Collapse

X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
  • #1

    Bananas and tomatoes

    I know the idea that you are supposed to put chopped up bananas under the tomato plants before you plant them, but I forgot to do that.
    In previous years I have put the whole skins around the tomato plants on the soil, but I wonder just how much they give to the plants like this.

    So I'm wondering the best way to use them.

    A couple of ideas.
    Chop them up small and put them round the plants, should work better than whole skins.
    Puree them in the mixer and spread round the plants. I imagine this may go mouldy, although I'm not sure why.
    Put them in the comfrey bin that is filled with water. Seems like this may be a good idea, what do you think?
    "Orinoco was a fat lazy Womble"

    Please ignore everything I say, I make it up as I go along, not only do I generally not believe what I write, I never remember it either.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Very interesting. I've only ever used bananas in a bag with green tomatoes to ripen them up.
    Granny on the Game in Sheffield

    Comment

    • #3
      I should have said that it's just the skins I'm talking about. They are full of potassium and other nutrients if what I hear is correct.
      "Orinoco was a fat lazy Womble"

      Please ignore everything I say, I make it up as I go along, not only do I generally not believe what I write, I never remember it either.

      Comment

      • #4
        I do remember one of the allotmenteers on the "Big Dig" planted banana skins with his outdoor tomatoes Womble, I'll watch this thread with interest.
        Granny on the Game in Sheffield

        Comment

        • #5
          I never heard of that, I know ripe bananas give off ethylene (I think) which helps to ripen green tomatoes after they've been picked. The pureed banana skins sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

          Comment

          • #6
            I have never done it with tomatoes because I have never had a greenhouse of my own, but I use chopped banana skins laid on the soil of my potted houseplants to make them flower on the windowsill, and it never fails. Great for cacti too, if mine are anything to go by.
            The only problem is those damned tiny flies...!
            There's no point reading history if you don't use the lessons it teaches.

            Head-hunted member of the Nutter's Club - can I get my cranium back please ?

            Comment

            • #7
              Don't mainstream bannana skins carry a high level of pesticide residue, I always treat them like they carry the plague and compost them
              Jiving on down to the beach to see the blue and the gray, seems to be all and it's rosy-it's a beautiful day!

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by King Carrot View Post
                Don't mainstream bannana skins carry a high level of pesticide residue, I always treat them like they carry the plague and compost them
                Yes this does appear to be the case after some searching.

                Which raises the question of using them at all uncomposted, or composting them........... or composting anything that may have lots of pesticides on them.

                Organic bananas seem to be clear, May be a change in buying then here.
                "Orinoco was a fat lazy Womble"

                Please ignore everything I say, I make it up as I go along, not only do I generally not believe what I write, I never remember it either.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Depends on the pesticides used. The ones used on bananas are carbamyls and organophosphates I believe - so fungicides and insecticides. The latter breaks down relatively quickly but might affect slugs et al I suppose; the former would probably make a longer-term difference to composting and soil structure over a period of years, due to the importance of fungi in the process.
                  Non-organic bananas are pretty close to the top of the list of things I avoid, due to sensitivity to pesticide residues. (Out of season salad veg and tomatoes, grown in Spanish polytunnels, would be up there too.)
                  I've never thought about it - I would normally never have non-organic skins to use - but I suppose that non-organic ones wouldn't have the same fungus gnat problem ! Given the horrendous mutagenic and teratogenic properties of the pesticides used, I think I prefer the gnats thank you, even without the stomach problems they are likely to cause me.
                  Quite apart from anything else, I feel sorry for the poor b***ers who have to work amidst the poisonous growing environment, and I refuse to support it.
                  There's no point reading history if you don't use the lessons it teaches.

                  Head-hunted member of the Nutter's Club - can I get my cranium back please ?

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Originally posted by womble View Post
                    Yes this does appear to be the case after some searching.

                    Which raises the question of using them at all uncomposted, or composting them........... or composting anything that may have lots of pesticides on them.

                    Organic bananas seem to be clear, May be a change in buying then here.
                    I guess the only way to be sure of what's in your compost is to buy organic although I've never added potato peelings and bits to compost that’s for growing veg.

                    The compost bins at home are alive with all sorts, its even Mega City One for very large slugs. We only use the household compost on non edibles anyway as the veg is growing a good half mile away and thesedays, I'm kinda totally off the idea of using absolutely anything but seaweed from the beach for the edibles – I just make sure there’s no triffid type plants coming along in it!
                    Jiving on down to the beach to see the blue and the gray, seems to be all and it's rosy-it's a beautiful day!

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      I agree with Flum, the gas (ethylene) is quite natural and does help to ripen all manner of fruit, and there the usage stops. The problem with fruit flies, and the possible contamination with unknown pestacides, ect, seems to be at best, counter productive to the whole idea of home gardening

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Right, so it's organic bananas from now on and then into the comfrey bin.

                        I have used banana skins around the tomatoes for 2 years now, with no problems from anything. But not a good idea from now on, now I know about the pesticides.
                        "Orinoco was a fat lazy Womble"

                        Please ignore everything I say, I make it up as I go along, not only do I generally not believe what I write, I never remember it either.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Davyburns View Post
                          I agree with Flum, the gas (ethylene) is quite natural and does help to ripen all manner of fruit,
                          It was Rusty Lady - another gardener of my generation and one I'm proud to be mistaken for!
                          Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

                          www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Flummery View Post
                            It was Rusty Lady - another gardener of my generation and one I'm proud to be mistaken for!
                            Sorry, I will have to keep off the Vino before posting!

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Davyburns View Post
                              Sorry, I will have to keep off the Vino before posting!
                              You're partaking of too many Grapes methinks, Davy !
                              There's no point reading history if you don't use the lessons it teaches.

                              Head-hunted member of the Nutter's Club - can I get my cranium back please ?

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next

                              Latest Topics

                              Collapse
                              View All

                              Recent Blog Posts

                              Collapse
                              View All
                              Working...
                              X