In a world where sustainability is increasingly important, many gardeners are looking for creative ways to reduce waste while growing fresh produce. One of the most innovative and satisfying ways to achieve this is by regrowing food from scraps. Not only does it cut down on kitchen waste, but it also provides a rewarding way to grow healthy, home-grown food, even in small spaces.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make the most of your kitchen scraps, you’ll be pleased to know that a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs can be regrown from leftover bits, many of which you can grow right in your kitchen window or balcony. Regrowing food from scraps offers an easy and cost-effective way to produce fresh, homegrown food all year round. And the best part is that it’s simple, fun, and good for the environment.
In this article, we will explore 35 different foods you can regrow from scraps, providing step-by-step instructions to help you get started with your own sustainable garden.
Why Regrow Food from Scraps?
Regrowing food from scraps has many benefits:
- Reduces Waste: Regrowing from scraps helps reduce food waste in your home. Instead of throwing away vegetable ends, stems, or peels, you can create new plants.
- Saves Money: Buying herbs, vegetables, and fruits can be expensive, especially if you need them regularly. By regrowing them from scraps, you can grow your own food at little or no cost.
- Fresh and Healthy: When you regrow food, you have full control over the growing process, ensuring no harmful pesticides or chemicals are used. Fresh produce from your own home garden is always healthier.
- Educational and Fun: Regrowing food is an exciting way to teach children about gardening, sustainability, and where their food comes from. It’s a hands-on, rewarding experience that connects you with nature.
- Sustainability: Regrowing food from scraps reduces the environmental impact of food production by cutting down on transportation and packaging waste.
Now, let’s dive into the details of how to regrow 35 different types of food from scraps, right at home.
35 Foods You Can Regrow from Scraps
1. Green Onions (Spring Onions)
Green onions are one of the easiest foods to regrow from scraps. Simply place the white roots in a glass of water, ensuring the roots are submerged, and place the jar in a sunny spot. In a few days, you’ll see new green shoots sprouting.
2. Potatoes
If you have leftover potato eyes (the little sprouts on the surface), you can plant them to grow new potatoes. Simply cut the potatoes into pieces with at least one sprout per piece and plant them in soil. Keep the soil moist and in a sunny spot.
3. Carrots
Regrow carrots by cutting off the top of the carrot, leaving about an inch of the root. Place the carrot top in a shallow dish of water and wait for the green shoots to grow. When the shoots are tall enough, transplant them into the soil.
4. Lettuce
You can regrow lettuce by cutting the base of the lettuce and placing it in a shallow bowl of water. Change the water every few days, and in a week or so, you’ll notice new leaves growing. Transplant to soil for continued growth.
5. Celery
Cut off the base of the celery stalk and place it in a bowl of water. Within a few days, small roots will begin to appear, and after a week, you can plant it in soil for continued growth.
6. Herbs (Basil, Mint, Parsley, etc.)
Many herbs can be regrown from cuttings. Simply snip a few inches of the herb plant, ensuring you cut just below a node. Place the cutting in water, and after a few weeks, roots will form. Transfer the rooted cutting into soil for a new herb plant.
7. Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be regrown by taking cuttings of the stem. Place the cuttings in water until roots form, then plant them in the soil for new tomato plants.
8. Avocado
Regrow an avocado tree from the pit by suspending it in water using toothpicks. Allow the pit to sprout roots and a stem, and once it’s strong enough, transplant it into soil.
9. Ginger
Ginger can be regrown by planting a small piece of ginger root in the soil. Make sure it has at least one sprout or bud. Keep it in a warm and humid environment, and in time, it will grow new ginger.
10. Sweet Potatoes
Cut a sweet potato in half and place it in water, submerged about an inch. In a few weeks, the potato will sprout vines, and you can plant the vines in soil to grow more sweet potatoes.
11. Leeks
Like green onions, leeks can be regrown by placing the white root end in a glass of water. After a few days, they will sprout new leaves. Replant them in the garden once they’re strong enough.
12. Garlic
If you have leftover garlic cloves, you can plant them directly into the soil, pointed side up. Keep them well-watered, and you’ll soon have fresh garlic growing.
13. Shallots
Shallots can be regrown by placing a small piece of the shallot bulb in the soil. Ensure the root end is facing down, and it will grow new shallots.
14. Mushrooms
While you can’t exactly regrow mushrooms from a single mushroom cap, you can use leftover stems to grow your own mushroom garden. Collect the stems, and place them in a moist, dark environment, and they will start to sprout.
15. Cabbage
Regrow cabbage by cutting off the base and placing it in a shallow dish of water. New leaves will start to sprout, and you can then transplant the cabbage into the soil.
16. Bell Peppers
While you can’t regrow a full pepper from a single pepper, you can plant the seeds inside the pepper and grow new plants.
17. Pineapple
To grow pineapple, cut off the top of the fruit and remove the leaves. Let the top dry out for a few days, and then plant it in soil. Over time, you’ll have a new pineapple plant.
18. Spinach
Regrow spinach by placing the root end in water, and new leaves will start to grow. Once strong enough, plant it in soil.
19. Bok Choy
Cut the base of the bok choy and place it in water. In a few days, you’ll see new growth at the top, and after about a week, transplant it to the garden.
20. Radishes
To regrow radishes, place the leftover radish tops in water. The roots will start to sprout, and in time, you’ll have new radishes ready to harvest.
21. Fennel
Regrow fennel by placing the bulb in water. New leaves will start to grow, and once established, plant it in the soil for continued growth.
22. Oregano
Take a cutting of oregano and place it in water. Once the roots have formed, transplant it into soil for a new oregano plant.
23. Scallions
Scallions can be regrown just like green onions. Place the white root ends in water and watch new shoots grow.
24. Zucchini
Plant zucchini seeds from the leftover zucchini to grow your own new zucchini plants.
25. Carrot Greens
While you can’t regrow the actual carrot root, you can regrow the greens. Place the carrot top in a shallow dish of water, and new green leaves will begin to grow.
26. Rhubarb
Regrow rhubarb by cutting off a piece of the root and planting it directly in the soil.
27. Kale
Kale can be regrown from scraps by placing the stem in water until new leaves start growing. Then, transfer the plant to soil.
28. Cucumber
Like zucchini, cucumbers can be regrown by planting cucumber seeds from the leftover fruit.
29. Squash
Squash can be regrown from seeds, just like zucchini and cucumber, by planting the seeds into soil.
30. Basil
To regrow basil, take a cutting from a healthy basil plant and place it in water until roots form. Then, transplant it into the soil.
31. Watermelon
Watermelon can be regrown by planting seeds from the leftover fruit into soil.
32. Lemon
You can grow a lemon tree by planting seeds from a lemon fruit. It takes time, but it’s an exciting way to grow your own citrus tree.
33. Papaya
Papaya seeds can be planted directly into soil. Within weeks, they will start growing into new papaya plants.
34. Chili Peppers
Chili pepper seeds can be planted and regrown into new plants, allowing you to grow your own spicy peppers.
35. Apples
While you can’t regrow apples from the fruit, you can plant the seeds inside an apple and grow a new apple tree.
Conclusion
Regrowing food from scraps is an exciting and rewarding way to create a sustainable garden at home. By reusing kitchen scraps, you not only reduce waste but also gain the satisfaction of watching new plants grow and thrive. From everyday herbs to fruit trees, the possibilities for regrowing are endless.
So, start saving your scraps today and enjoy
the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor!