Gardening can be a delightful and rewarding hobby, especially when it allows you to reduce waste and grow fresh produce from kitchen scraps. Who might be looking for sustainable and cost-effective gardening solutions, re-growing vegetables from scraps can be an excellent way to enjoy homegrown produce without needing to buy new seeds or seedlings.
This guide will walk you through the process of re-growing 11 common vegetables from scraps, offering you a simple and eco-friendly way to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh veggies.
1. Green Onions:
– How to Regrow: Place the white roots of green onions in a glass of water with the roots submerged and leaves above water. Change the water every few days.
– Tips: They will start regrowing within a few days, and you can continuously harvest the green tops.
2. Lettuce:
– How to Regrow: Save the base of the lettuce head and place it in a shallow dish with about 1/2 inch of water. Keep it in a sunny spot and change the water every couple of days.
– Tips: New leaves will start to sprout from the center in about a week.
3. Celery:
– How to Regrow: Cut the base off the celery bunch and place it in a shallow dish with water, with the cut side facing up. Change the water every few days.
– Tips: After a week or so, new growth will appear. You can then transplant it into soil.
4. Carrots:
– How to Regrow: Save the tops of carrots and place them in a shallow dish with water, cut side down.
– Tips: New greens will sprout from the tops, which can be used in salads and pestos. For actual carrot roots, you’ll need to plant them in soil.
5. Garlic:
– How to Regrow: Plant individual garlic cloves (pointed end up) in soil, leaving the top exposed.
– Tips: Shoots will emerge in about a week. Harvest the shoots for a mild garlic flavor, or let them grow into full garlic bulbs.
6. Basil:
– How to Regrow: Place basil cuttings (with 4-inch stems) in a glass of water and leave them in a sunny spot. Change the water every few days.
– Tips: Once roots develop, transplant them into soil.
7. Potatoes:
– How to Regrow: Cut a potato into pieces, ensuring each piece has at least one “eye.” Let the pieces dry out for a day, then plant them in soil.
– Tips: Potatoes will sprout and grow into new plants within a few weeks.
8. Sweet Potatoes:
– How to Regrow: Insert toothpicks into a sweet potato and balance it over a glass of water so the bottom half is submerged.
– Tips: After roots and shoots appear, you can plant it in soil.
9. Ginger:
– How to Regrow: Soak a piece of ginger root in water overnight and then plant it in soil with the buds facing up.
– Tips: Ginger grows slowly, but you’ll see shoots and roots within a few weeks.
10. Onions:
– How to Regrow: Place the bottom part of an onion (the part with roots) in soil and water it lightly.
– Tips: New green shoots will appear, and the bulb will start to grow.
11. Peppers:
– How to Regrow: Save the seeds from your peppers, dry them, and plant them in soil.
– Tips: Keep the soil moist, and you’ll see seedlings sprouting in a few weeks.
Growing vegetables from scraps not only saves money but also promotes a sustainable lifestyle.
By following these simple steps, you can enjoy a continuous supply of fresh, homegrown produce. This practice is not only beneficial for your wallet but also for the environment. Start re-growing your vegetables today and enjoy the rewarding experience of turning kitchen waste into a bountiful garden.
Happy gardening!