A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Banana Peels in Roses?

I've heard that putting banana peels under rose bushes keeps aphids and other pests away. Has anyone tried this? If it's true, wouldn't it work on other plants as well?

I heard burying banana peels near your rose bushes adds potassium and is good for them. Never heard the aphid thing. Unless aphids dont like potassium.

definitely good potassium. I don't know about the aphid thing either.

I add banana peels, egg shells, and coffee grounds.

Yup...fish heads and epsom salts too.
It's a wonder my roses don't stink to high heaven.LOL

I read to keep bugs off your roses plant Allium (ornamental onions). I have a lot of them planted around my roses and I do not get any bugs on it. I do not know if it works or if it is a rose the bugs do not like. But it has been in the ground 15+ years without any problems.

I also use the banana peels and epsom salt in the soil around my roses.

What is the epsom salt for?

Someone posted a site about the benefits of epsom salt. I never knew why I just knew it worked. This is what the site said.

Studies show that magnesium and sulfur, two components of Epsom Salt may:
Help seeds germinate
Make plants grow bushier
Produce more flowers
Increase chlorophyll production
Improve phosphorus and nitrogen uptake

http://www.epsomsaltcouncil.org/garden_benefits.htm
Here is the link from weezie's page about the salt..

Yep, banana's, egg shells, coffee grounds and all kitchen scraps and garden wastes get put back in the garden soil. I have a compost bin in one corner of the yard but don't use manures to keep down the smell. I use worms to aid in the composting process which works fabulously! Wish I had known about worms and composting earlier.
I didn't know about Epsom salts!! Great information! I am going to use the 1/2cup of Epsom salts in a gallon of water on my just bought rose bush right now! Thanks! I'm so glad I found this web site.
Terry