The Ultimate Guide to Re-growing Vegetables from Scraps

Free Food from Your Kitchen Scraps

What if I told you that the parts of vegetables you throw away could grow into free food? It's true! Many common vegetables can be regrown from scraps with just water and a sunny windowsill.

Here's your complete guide to turning trash into treasure.

The Easiest Vegetables to Regrow

1. Green Onions (Scallions)

Difficulty: ⭐ (Easiest) Time to Harvest: 1-2 weeks Success Rate: 95%

How to Do It:

1. Cut green onions, leaving 2-3 inches of the white root end
2. Place roots in a glass with 1 inch of water
3. Put in a sunny spot
4. Change water every 2-3 days
5. Harvest when they reach desired height

Pro Tip: You can regrow the same roots 3-4 times before they lose vigor.

2. Romaine Lettuce

Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Time to Harvest: 2-3 weeks Success Rate: 80%

How to Do It:

1. Cut lettuce, leaving 2 inches of the base
2. Place in a shallow dish with 1/2 inch of water
3. Keep in bright, indirect light
4. Change water daily
5. Transplant to soil once roots develop (optional)

Pro Tip: Works best with romaine and butter lettuce varieties.

3. Celery

Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Time to Harvest: 2-3 weeks for leaves, 3-4 months for stalks Success Rate: 75%

How to Do It:

1. Cut celery, leaving 2 inches of the base
2. Place in a shallow bowl with warm water
3. Keep in a sunny spot
4. Change water every 2 days
5. Transplant to soil after 1 week for best results

Pro Tip: The regrown celery will be smaller but just as flavorful.

4. Garlic (Garlic Greens)

Difficulty: ⭐ Time to Harvest: 1-2 weeks for greens Success Rate: 90%

How to Do It:

1. Place a garlic clove (or sprouted garlic) in a small container
2. Add just enough water to cover the bottom
3. Place in a sunny window
4. Harvest greens when 3-4 inches tall

Pro Tip: Garlic greens taste like mild garlic and are great in salads!

5. Ginger

Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Time to Harvest: 3-4 months Success Rate: 70%

How to Do It:

1. Soak a piece of ginger with growth buds overnight
2. Plant in soil with buds facing up
3. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged
4. Place in warm, indirect light
5. Harvest when leaves die back

Pro Tip: Look for organic ginger—conventional may be treated to prevent sprouting.

6. Fresh Herbs (Basil, Mint, Cilantro)

Difficulty: ⭐⭐ Time to Harvest: 2-4 weeks Success Rate: 85%

How to Do It:

1. Cut a 4-inch stem just below a leaf node
2. Remove lower leaves
3. Place in water, ensuring no leaves are submerged
4. Wait for roots to develop (1-2 weeks)
5. Transplant to soil

Pro Tip: Basil roots fastest in warm water.

Quick Reference Chart

Tips for Success

Water Growing

• Use room temperature water
• Change water every 2-3 days to prevent bacteria
• Keep containers clean
• Provide adequate light (4-6 hours of sunlight)

Soil Growing

• Use well-draining potting mix
• Don't overwater—most scraps rot from too much moisture
• Start in small containers, transplant as needed
• Fertilize lightly after 2-3 weeks

The Math: How Much Can You Save?

Let's do some quick calculations:

Beyond the Basics

Once you've mastered these, try:

• Bok Choy - Similar to lettuce
• Leeks - Similar to green onions
• Lemongrass - Roots easily in water
• Potatoes - Plant sprouted potatoes
• Avocado - Grow a tree from the pit (patience required!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Too much water - Roots need oxygen too
2. Not enough light - Most vegetables need 4-6 hours of sun
3. Forgetting to change water - Stagnant water breeds bacteria
4. Giving up too soon - Some vegetables take time

The Environmental Impact

By regrowing vegetables, you're:

• Reducing food waste
• Cutting down on packaging
• Lowering your carbon footprint
• Creating a more sustainable kitchen

Start Today

You probably have something in your fridge right now that you can regrow. Why not start today?

The best part? It's completely free, and there's something magical about eating food you grew yourself—even if it started as kitchen scraps.