Gardening expert's simple four-ingredient feed to make roses 'enormous'

Garden enthusiasts, take note: as we are now in April, it's your last opportunity to feed roses before their bloom time - critical if you're keen on seeing a bounty of . Selecting the right fertiliser can seem daunting, but fortunately, the most effective rose feed is incredibly cheap: simple kitchen waste can do the trick.

Charlotte Ekker Wiggins, a master and founder of Charlotte, swears by her homemade rose feed concoction which has nourished her roses for years. She divulged her secret formula, saying: "I have been making it for a couple of decades now from dried egg shells, banana peels, coffee grounds and Epsom salt."

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It turns out that bananas aren't just healthy for humans; their peels are replete with potassium, while eggshells bring calcium to the table - both elements are paramount for the roots and help those blooms reach impressive sizes.

Coffee grounds are a gold mine of nitrogen, vital for flowering beauties and also great at warding off fungal nasties, while Epsom salt provides magnesium and sulphur to spur plant growth.

Want those roses to turn heads with their stunningly large flowers?

Whip up fantastic homemade rose feed

Begin hoarding those banana peels and eggshells. Find a spot in your kitchen where they can dry out, reports .

Charlotte advises: "I keep a basket on top of my refrigerator lined with a paper towel. I find it easier to cut up the banana peels after they are dry but I have cut them up both fresh and dry."

Firstly, dry out your coffee grounds and store them in a plastic container. You may need to purchase Epsom bath salts, which are available at for around £3.50.

She further explained: "I also dry out the coffee on a newspaper spread onto a bread tray in my garage. Once dry, I store the dry coffee in a reused plastic container I use later to mix all ingredients."

Next, simply combine the ingredients. Mix banana peels and coffee grounds in equal parts, then use half the amount of egg shells and Epsom salt.

Before adding them to the mixture, grind the egg shells into powder. This aids their quick decomposition and allows the flowers to slowly access the calcium over time.

When you're ready to feed your roses, just make a small trench around the drip line of the roses and sprinkle the mixture in.

This rose feed is simple to prepare and can significantly enhance rose blooms if used correctly. It also helps reduce food waste in your home.

She stated: "One of the best things about this mixture is that I am reusing banana peels, egg shells and coffee grounds and making a plant food that has proven itself.

"Also helps to have an extra source of Epsom salts for my tired muscles."