While composting is great and you may have implemented plenty of climate-friendly yard ideas, there are other ways to limit your carbon footprint. Regrowing vegetables from scraps is one of them! While not all veggies are granted a second life from leftovers, many are! They’re also incredibly easy to cultivate.
This will save you time and money, and you’ll also be able to enjoy fresh produce whenever you’d like. Interested in trying it out for yourself? Below, you’ll find the top seven vegetables you can regrow from scraps, as well as the best tips and tricks for growing methods.
Table of Contents
1. Green Onions and Leeks
Known as a flavorful garnish, green onions are an excellent addition to your vegetable garden. They can also be regrown from scraps. Whether you’ve just harvested or bought them from a supermarket, you can enjoy the stalks with dinner and plant the bulb and roots.
To grow, cover the bulbs in soil but allow the short stalks to sit just above the soil. Water regularly and keep an eye on growth. Trim as much as you’d like at mealtime, allowing the plant to continue growing. You can follow the same process for regrowing leeks from scraps.
If you’d like, you can start your green onions or leeks in a glass of water. Place them near a window sill, changing the water out every two to three days. You should be able to plant them in soil after about a week.
2. Garlic
Garlic can find its way into almost any meal, so there’s no harm in ensuring it’s always accessible. By regrowing it, garlic will always be at your beck and call. Planting a single clove of garlic in soil is the easiest way to grow this plant. Opt for a well-draining soil and follow proper harvesting and storing techniques to get the most out of your crops. This is a great way to use up sprouted, organic garlic.
If you’d like to enjoy garlic greens, consider sprouting a few cloves in a glass of water. Place your cloves upright in a glass jar and fill with 1/2 inch of water. Change out the water every few days. In about a week, your sprouts should be about 3-inches tall and ready to eat! Your cloves should now have a root system and can be planted into the ground.
3. Carrots
While you may have once shoved carrots to the side of your plate, this nutritious and delicious vegetable makes a scrumptious side to almost any dish. They’re incredibly easy to grow, especially from the carrot top. Ensure that about an inch of the carrot is still attached to the leaves and stem and place in a container of water.
Once roots grow, you can transplant your carrots into a container or your garden and allow them to continue growing. You can use this process for other root vegetables.
4. Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is another hassle-free option. After you’ve chopped off what you’re going to eat from your original head, place the stump (root facing downward) into a bowl of water. Once a few new leaves begin to grow, transplant the stump into soil, whether that’s in a container or your garden. You can harvest these leaves as they grow or remove the entire head and restart the entire process.
5. Basil, Mint, and Cilantro
Most herb bundles, such as basil, mint, and cilantro, can be regrown into plants so you can enjoy them for longer. So stop letting them wilt in your fridge and follow these simple steps!
Start by taking a 3 to 6 inch cutting from above a node. Then, remove the bottom leaves from the cutting, ensuring there are about 2 to 3 inches of bare stem. Next, place the herbs in a glass of water. Once the plant has established roots transfer it into a pot of soil or your garden. You can use these greens as they grow.
6. Celery
Celery is a versatile and delicious vegetable that makes an appearance in an abundance of recipes. To regrow it, simply cut the stalks off 1 to 2 inches above the root. Place the root in a bowl of water, in a location with adequate sunlight. Watch as it sprout new leaves!
After about a week, your new plant should become thicker and ready for transplanting into soil. As long as the roots are in the ground, you should be able to harvest several times.
7. Potatoes
Like garlic, potatoes are easy to regrow. Simply allow a spud to sprout, cut it in half, and plant it in well-draining soil. In a few weeks, the potato will begin to grow into a whole new plant. In about 70 to 100 days, they should be ready for harvest, and you can repeat the process all over again. Remember to store potatoes properly to enjoy them all year round!
Get Growing!
If you’re interested in regrowing some veggies, this list is a great place to start. Each of these vegetables are incredibly easy to grow and find at your local supermarket, so the entire process is hassle-free. Plus, the results occur quickly so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor fast. It’s also a great activity to do with kids since it demonstrates the growth cycle of plants.
Will you be regrowing any of these veggies in your garden this year? Let us know below!
