Complete Gardening
Discover how you can turn your kitchen scraps into a thriving vegetable garden.
With just a bit of effort, you can regrow these common vegetables right at home, saving money and reducing waste.
Here are 14 vegetables you can easily regrow from leftovers.
1. Green Onions
Green onions are one of the easiest vegetables to regrow from kitchen scraps. Simply place the white bulb end in a glass of water, ensuring the roots are submerged. Within days, you’ll see green shoots sprouting upwards. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
Once the shoots are tall enough, you can trim what you need and watch them regrow again. This cycle can continue for several weeks, providing you with a constant supply of fresh green onions for your dishes. It’s an effortless way to keep your kitchen stocked.
2. Lettuce
Regrowing lettuce from scraps is a simple and rewarding process. Start by saving the bottom inch of the lettuce head and placing it in a shallow bowl of water. Make sure the cut side faces up, and place it in a sunny spot.
Over the next two weeks, you’ll notice new leaves beginning to emerge from the center. Replace the water every few days to ensure your lettuce stays healthy. Once the leaves reach your desired size, they can be harvested for a fresh salad. You’ll be surprised by how quickly it grows back.
3. Celery
Celery can be easily regrown by saving the base and placing it in a shallow dish of water. Make sure the base is submerged but the shoots are above water. Position the dish near a sunny window for optimal growth.
In about a week, new shoots will start to appear. Change the water regularly to maintain freshness and prevent mold. After a few weeks, once the shoots are around three inches tall, you can transplant the celery into soil. This method not only reduces waste but provides fresh produce year-round.
4. Carrots
While you can’t grow a full carrot from scraps, you can regrow its leafy greens. Simply cut off the top inch of the carrot and place it in a dish with a small amount of water. Position it in a sunny spot.
Within a week, you’ll see green foliage sprouting. These greens are edible and can be used in salads or as garnishes. Remember to change the water frequently to keep the tops fresh. This is a perfect project for kids and a delightful way to utilize every part of the vegetable.
5. Bok Choy
Regrowing bok choy is as easy as placing the base in a shallow dish of water. Ensure the roots are submerged while keeping the leaves above water. Position it on a sunny windowsill to encourage growth.
In about a week, new leaves will begin to sprout from the center. This method keeps your kitchen stocked with fresh greens for weeks. Once the leaves reach a substantial size, you can transplant them into soil for continued growth. It’s a simple and eco-friendly way to enjoy bok choy year-round.
6. Garlic
Garlic is incredibly easy to regrow from just a single clove. Plant the clove with the root end down into a small pot of soil. Place the pot in a sunny window and water occasionally.
In a few weeks, you’ll notice green shoots emerging. These shoots, known as garlic scapes, can be used in cooking for a mild garlic flavor. Eventually, the clove will develop into a new garlic bulb. This process is not only sustainable but also provides a continuous supply of fresh garlic for your recipes.
7. Potatoes
Potatoes can be regrown from the “eyes” or sprouts on the skin. Cut a potato into pieces, each containing at least one eye, and plant them in soil. Ensure the eyes face upward and cover them with soil.
Place the pot in a sunny location and water regularly. Within a few weeks, you’ll notice the potato plant sprouting. As the plant grows, it will produce new potatoes beneath the soil. This method is a great way to use sprouted potatoes and enjoy homegrown spuds year-round.
8. Ginger
Ginger is a versatile root that you can regrow easily at home. Start by selecting a piece of ginger with visible buds or “eyes.” Plant it in a pot with the buds facing upwards, covering it lightly with soil.
Keep the soil moist and the pot in a warm, sunny spot. Over time, you’ll see shoots and roots developing. Harvesting can begin once the plant is well-established, usually in a few months. This method ensures a constant supply of fresh ginger, perfect for cooking and health remedies.
9. Basil
Basil can be regrown from cuttings. Take a few stems, about four inches long, and place them in a glass of water. Position the glass in a sunny location, ensuring the leaves remain above water.
Change the water every few days to prevent stagnation. Within a week, you’ll notice roots beginning to form. Once the roots are a few inches long, you can transplant the basil into soil. This method is perfect for maintaining a constant supply of fresh herbs for your culinary adventures. Enjoy the fragrant aroma of basil all year.
10. Fennel
Fennel can be regrown from its bulb base. Place the base in a shallow bowl with enough water to cover the roots. Position the bowl in a sunny area. Over the next few days, new green fronds will start to appear.
Change the water regularly to prevent mold and ensure healthy growth. Once the fronds reach a desired length, they can be harvested for use in recipes. This method not only reduces food waste but also provides a continuous supply of fresh fennel for your dishes. It’s a simple and effective way to enjoy fennel.
11. Leeks
Leeks can be regrown much like green onions. Save the white root ends and place them in a glass of water, covering the roots. Position the glass on a sunny windowsill. In a few days, you’ll notice the green tops beginning to regrow.
Change the water every few days to keep it fresh. This method allows you to have a continuous supply of leeks, perfect for soups and stews. It’s an easy way to reduce waste and enjoy fresh leeks without frequent trips to the grocery store.
12. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be regrown by suspending them in water. Insert toothpicks around a sweet potato and place it in a jar so that half of it is submerged. Position it in a sunny spot.
In a few weeks, you’ll see vines and roots developing. Once the vines reach about six inches long, they can be transplanted into soil. This method not only produces new sweet potatoes but also provides ornamental vines that can beautify your garden. It’s a sustainable way to enjoy fresh sweet potatoes year-round.
13. Mint
Mint is a hardy herb that can easily be regrown from cuttings. Take a few sprigs and place them in a glass of water, ensuring the ends are submerged. Position the glass in a sunny location to encourage root growth.
Change the water every few days to keep it fresh. In about a week, you’ll see roots forming, and the mint can be transplanted into soil. This method ensures a continuous supply of fresh mint, perfect for teas, salads, and more. Enjoy the invigorating scent of mint in your home.
14. Turnips
Turnips can be regrown for their greens. Cut the top inch off the turnip and place it in a shallow dish of water. Position it in a sunny location, and soon you’ll notice new greens sprouting.
These greens can be harvested and used in salads or as a garnish. Change the water every few days to maintain freshness. This method not only utilizes every part of the turnip but also provides a continuous supply of fresh greens for your meals.