​​​​​The Gourmet gardeners

"Grow , Cook and Eat Your Own Organic  Food"

 16 Veggies You Can

Re-Grow from Kitchen Scraps

In many cases, we end up wasting a lot of food, which leads into having excessive scraps in the kitchen. For instance, you have thrown a house party for a group of friends. It is inevitable that some will not be able to make it and hence, you will have a lot of food wastage. Also, in most vegetables, you do not use the entire portion as some parts are not good to be eaten.

With such being said, the rest of this article will provide you with insights on some of the vegetables that can be regrown from scraps. These vegetables work like magic as they are given a new life when some people might think that they are already useless. Some people may call it magic, but I consider their regrowth a gift from nature that we should be all thankful for.

Garlic

If you have excess garlic from whatever it is that you prepare the other night, do not just toss it in the garbage as it can magically regrow on its own.

If you are going to have it planted in soil, make sure that it is going to be strategically positioned in an area that will be reached by full and direct sunlight. Before it is planted, see to it that you have chopped off the scrape. Keep in mind that well that it should be planted with root-end down.

Ginger

This is one of the easiest plants to grow indoors and from scrap. Simply take out a chunk and have it partially submerged in soil. Just make sure that the newest bud is going to be positioned up as this is the part from which the plant will regrow.

For best result, place it in filtered sunlight and not direct on the sun. The next time that you need ginger, simply take out the root, cut the portion that is needed, and you can have it replanted.

Onions

Just like in the case of ginger, the propagation of onion from scrap will prove to be a piece of cake. Slice the bottom of the onion while making sure to have the roots still attached. A good thing to do is to allow it to dry first for a few hours before it is planted. Once it is ready, plant it in a pot and make sure that it receives warm sunlight. Keep the soil moist.

Mushroom

Although mushrooms can be propagated from cutting scraps, it is quite challenging. All that you need to do is to take out the head of the mushroom and have the stalk planted in soil. The head should be exposed above the soil. It would be best to have it planted in a pot to make it portable, which makes it easy to be transferred from one place to another, depending on where it is cool at night and where there is warm but filtered sunlight during daytime.

Cabbage

More often than not, when you use cabbage in the kitchen, you just take out the leaves that you need and you throw the base because it is hard and not best to be eaten.

Well, the next time you are dealing with cabbage, spare the bottom part as this is in fact the most important since it can be planted again. Plant it in a large jar with soil and put it near the window where sunlight is going to be abundant.

Lettuce

Similar to the case of cabbage, you would also normally just take out the base and have it disposed in the trash bin. Planting the base to allow the vegetable to regrow will be similar to what you do with the cabbage.

Once the lettuce has regrown, you will enjoy its tasty and crispy leaves. You do not have to be worried about planting it again. Just take out the leaves that you need and it will keep on growing on its own.

Lemongrass

Once you have taken out the part of the grass that you need, keep the root and do not have it tossed in the garbage bag. Plant the root in a jar filled with soil and little water. Make sure that it is placed in a position with enough sunlight. After a week, you will notice that it has started growing. This is the right time to have it transferred in a bigger pot.

Celery

Cut from the base of the celery, leaving an inch or two from the base. Put it in a jar that is filled with water. Make sure that the level of water is enough to have the roots covered while leaving the top part exposed. It may take several days before you will notice signs of its regrowth. Through the days, spray water on the top part regularly in order to retain its moisture.

Bean Sprouts

If you have leftover beans and you would like it to regrow, all that you need to do is to have it soaked in water. The morning after, have it drained and laid in paper towels. Repeat the process all over again until you see the sprouts appearing. Once the desired size is achieved, you can have it put on your salad or sandwiches, depending on how you want your beans to be consumed.

Potatoes

If you have potatoes with big or robust eyes, do not dispose it as it can still be regrown. All that you have to do is to cut it in two pieces, each part being at least 2 inches with one eye on each side.

Allow it to rest for at least 24 hours, which will dry out the portion that has been cut. Plant each piece 8 inches deep in soil with the eye facing up. When sprouts start emerging, add another 4 inches of fertile soil.

Carrot

Technically speaking, you will not be able to regrow another carrot from one carrot, but you can grow leaves. Cut the top part of the carrot while leaving about an inch of its part. Stick toothpicks on the side and have it balanced in a jar filled with water just enough to reach the bottom of the cut portion. Place it in an area that is not directly reached by the sun. It will soon grow leaves, which although you might not want to eat since it is bitter, will be able to make a good kitchen plant.

Beets

Slice the top part of the beet, leaving at least one-third of the entire root. Place it in a cup that is filled with water with the sliced portion being the part submerged. Put it in a place that is going to receive sunlight indirectly. Make sure that water is changed after every few days so that bacteria will not grow. Its greens will soon appear on the top after several weeks.

Bok Choy

Simply cut about an inch from the root to the top part and have it placed in a bowl that is filled with water. Make sure that the portion that has been sliced is the one that is dipped in the water. While the roots are submerged, see to it that not the entire plant is drowned. Place it is a window with filtered sunlight and water it daily to enhance its regrowth.

Fennel

This is another popular option for redrawing from scrap and similar to how you grow root vegetables. Simply take off the bottom part and leave about an inch of the entire root. Put it in a container with water, ideally in the windowsill. It will soon regrow from its top and after a few days, it will be ready to be transplanted in soil.

Scallions

To regrow scallions, you can simply chop off the root and have it submerged in water. To allow it to grow, make sure that it is placed in an area where it receives abundant amount of sunlight. Also, see to it that water is changed daily in order to keep it clean. As long as you follow these things, your scallions will grow naturally in no time.

Turnip

Turnip is one of the many vegetable roots that are ideal to be regrown from scraps. All that you need to do is to cut off the top portion and have it placed in a container with water. The greens will begin to sprout after several days. By the time you noticed that the root is starting to grow, have it transferred in a pot filled with fertile soil.