Are you looking to start a garden and grow your own food? Did you know that you don’t always have to buy seeds or seedlings to get started? In fact, you can regrow many vegetables from the scraps you might otherwise throw away! This not only saves you money but also reduces waste. In this post we will walk you through how to regrow vegetables from kitchen scraps, how to restart, when to pot and how to care for them.
Pot Type
When embarking on your indoor regrowing journey, choosing the right pots for your vegetables is essential. Here are some of the best types to consider:
- Terracotta Pots: Breathable and classic, terracotta pots are excellent for plants that prefer dry conditions as they absorb excess moisture. However, they can be quite heavy, so consider their placement.
- Ceramic Pots: These pots are excellent for retaining moisture, making them ideal for most indoor vegetables. They are also available in a wide range of colors and designs.
- Plastic Pots: Lightweight and economical, plastic pots are a beginner-friendly choice. They retain moisture well, but ensure they have proper drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
- Self-Watering Pots: These pots have a reservoir at the bottom that holds water, ensuring your plants have a constant water supply. Ideal for those who travel frequently or tend to forget watering their plants.
Remember, whatever pot you choose, ensure it has adequate drainage to prevent waterlogging and root rot.
Soil Type
Choosing the right potting soil is just as important as selecting the suitable pot. Here are some recommendations for the best potting soils for growing vegetables:
- Organic Potting Mix: This type of soil is perfect for vegetables as it is enriched with all the essential nutrients that plants need. It is a mix of compost, peat moss, and perlite, which together provide excellent water retention, breathability, and drainage.
- Compost: A good quality compost is rich in nutrients and can be mixed with garden soil to create a fertile environment for your plants. It also improves the texture of the soil and increases its ability to hold water.
- Coconut Coir: This is a sustainable and eco-friendly option that is derived from coconut husks. It is very absorbent and can retain water well, making it ideal for vegetables that require moist conditions.
- Vermiculite: This is used to aerate the soil and enhance drainage. It also helps in retaining essential nutrients and maintaining a balanced pH level.
Remember, the key is to find the right balance between water retention and drainage. Too much water could lead to root rot and too little could leave your plants dehydrated.
Vegetables You Can Regrow from Scraps
Below is a list of 10 vegetables you can regrow from kitchen scraps. How to restart them, when to pot and how to care for them to produce more veggies!
Celery – All You Need is the Base
Celery can be regrown using the base or bottom part of the stalk. To start, cut off the bottom 2 inches of the stalk. Place this base in a shallow dish or bowl, cut side up, filled with a little bit of water. Make sure to change the water every couple of days. Within a week, you should start to see small leaves sprouting from the center of the base.
Once these leaves are well-established and roots have started to grow from the bottom, it’s time to pot your celery. Choose a pot that’s deep enough to accommodate the developing root system, and fill it with well-draining soil.
Celery thrives in a sunny location but can also grow under fluorescent or LED grow lights. It prefers cooler conditions, so a location with temperatures between 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. If you’re using grow lights, set them up to provide the celery with 14-16 hours of light per day. Remember to rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your plant receive equal light.
Garlic – Just One Clove
Garlic can be regrown using a single clove. To begin, choose a clove from a garlic bulb, making sure it’s healthy and free from any signs of mold or disease. Plant the clove in a pot, with the pointy end facing up and the flat end facing down. The pot should be at least 8 inches deep to accommodate the developing root system and to give the new shoots room to grow. Fill it with a well-draining soil mix like a combination of compost and coconut coir.
Garlic needs plenty of full sun, so place your pot in a sunny windowsill that gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight every day. If you’re using grow lights, set them to provide the garlic with around 14-16 hours of light per day. Similar to celery, make sure to rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your plant receive equal light.
Once planted, water your garlic well and maintain consistent moisture in the soil. However, be careful not to overwater as this can lead to root rot and other fungal diseases. In a few weeks, you should see green shoots starting to emerge from the soil. As your garlic grows, remember to feed it with a well-balanced organic fertilizer to ensure it gets all the nutrients it needs.
Green Onions – Restart from the Base of Roots
Green onions, also known as scallions, can be regrown using the white bulbous part that is usually discarded. To start, cut about an inch from the root end of the green onion. It’s essential to ensure that some of the white part remains with the root as this is where the new green shoots will sprout. Place this cut-off end in a shallow dish or jar filled with water, ensuring that the white part is fully submerged. Change the water every couple of days or whenever it appears cloudy.
After a few days, you should notice new green shoots growing from the tops and roots growing from the bottom. Once these roots are about an inch long, it’s time to plant your green onions. Choose a pot that’s at least 6 inches deep to accommodate the roots and fill it with a well-draining soil mix, such as an organic potting mix or a mix of compost and vermiculite.
Green onions are a hardy plant and can grow in a range of light conditions, but they prefer full sun. So, place your pot in a sunny windowsill that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight every day. If you’re using grow lights, set them to provide the onions with around 14-16 hours of light per day. Rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of the plant receive equal light.
Water your green onions enough to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so ensure your pot has good drainage. With proper care, you should have a constant supply of fresh green onions right in your kitchen!
Romaine Lettuce – All you Need is the Base
Romaine lettuce can be regrown using the base or bottom part of the lettuce head. To start, cut off the bottom 1 inch of the lettuce. Place this base in a shallow dish or bowl, cut side up, filled with a little bit of water so that the bottom half of the lettuce base is submerged. Change the water every few days to keep it fresh.
After 7-10 days, once roots have emerged and new leaves are forming from the center, it’s time to pot your romaine lettuce. Choose a pot that’s at least 8 inches in diameter, or larger if you plan to grow more than one plant. Fill it with a well-draining soil mix, such as an organic potting mix or a combination of compost and vermiculite.
Romaine lettuce prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It’s an excellent candidate for indoor gardening using grow lights. If you’re using grow lights, set them up to provide the lettuce with around 12-14 hours of light per day. Be sure to rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your lettuce receive equal light.
Water your romaine lettuce regularly to keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid overwatering which can lead to root rot. With the right care and attention, you’ll have a fresh supply of crisp romaine lettuce in no time.
Sweet Potato – So Fun to Watch Grow
Sweet potatoes can be propagated from a single sweet potato. Start by cutting your sweet potato in half and inserting toothpicks around its middle. Suspend the cut sweet potato over a container of water, ensuring the cut side is facing down into the water. Keep the container in a warm place, such as a sunny windowsill, and within a few weeks, you should see roots starting to grow from the cut side and vines from the top.
When the vines have reached about four inches in length, it’s time to plant your sweet potato in soil. Choose a pot that’s at least 10 inches deep and wide enough to accommodate the developing root system. Fill it with well-draining soil, such as a mix of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite. Space the sweet potato vines about nine to twelve inches apart in the soil to give them enough room to grow.
Sweet potatoes are a tropical plant, and they love the sun. Place your pot in a location that gets at least six hours of full sun exposure every day. If you’re using grow lights, set them up to provide the sweet potato with around 14-16 hours of light per day. Rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your plant receive equal light.
Water your sweet potato plant regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Remember, proper drainage is crucial to prevent root rot. With the right care, you will be harvesting your own home-grown sweet potatoes in several months!
Potatoes – Just One Potato can Produce Multiple Plants
Potatoes can be grown from seed potatoes which are potatoes that have sprouting eyes. To start, cut a seed potato into chunks ensuring each chunk has at least one or two eyes. Before planting, let the cut pieces dry out for a day or two to prevent rotting.
Choose a pot that’s at least 10 inches deep and has good drainage. Fill it with a well-draining soil mix, such as a combination of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite, leaving about 4 inches at the top. Plant the potato chunks about 4 inches deep with the eyes facing up.
Potatoes need a lot of light to grow well. Place your pot in a location that gets at least 6 hours of full sun exposure every day. If you’re using grow lights, they can perfectly work for potatoes. Set them up to provide the potatoes with around 14-16 hours of light per day. As with the other plants, rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your plant receive equal light.
Water your potatoes regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and be wary of overwatering as it can lead to root rot. With proper care, you should have a bountiful harvest of home-grown potatoes in a few months!
Ginger – Just a Small Start from the Grocery Store
To grow ginger at home, start with a fresh ginger root from the grocery store. Choose a plump root with as many eye buds as possible (these are the small points from where the shoots will grow). Soak the ginger root in warm water overnight to prepare it for planting.
Choose a container that is wide and shallow rather than deep as ginger roots grow horizontally. Fill it with well-draining potting soil. Plant the ginger root with the eye bud pointing up, and cover it with 1-2 inches of soil. Water it well.
Ginger plants prefer partial to full shade in the wild, but indoors, they should be kept in a place that receives indirect light. If you’re using grow lights, set them up to provide the ginger plant with around 12-14 hours of soft light per day. Be sure to rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your plant receive equal light.
Keep the soil consistently moist and ensure good drainage to prevent waterlogging. In a few weeks, you should see shoots emerging from the soil. With the right care, you can grow your own fresh ginger right at home!
Leeks – Regrow from the Base
Leeks can be grown from the white base of the vegetable, with the roots attached. Place the base of the vegetable in a glass with a small amount of water to encourage root growth. Once roots have formed, it can be planted in soil.
Choose a pot that is at least 10 inches deep, to accommodate the leek’s long roots, and fill it with a well-draining soil mix, such as a combination of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite. If you’re planting seeds, sow them about a half-inch deep and 6 inches apart. If you’re planting a leek base, make sure the top of the base is level with the soil surface.
Leeks prefer a location with full sun, but they can also tolerate partial shade. If you’re using grow lights, they should be set up to provide the leeks with around 12-14 hours of light per day. As with other plants, rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your leek plants receive equal light.
Water your leeks regularly to maintain consistently moist but not waterlogged soil. Overwatering can lead to root rot. With the right care and attention, you’ll be able to enjoy home-grown leeks in just a few months!
Bok Choy – Save the Base and Start a New Plant
Bok choy can be easily grown from scraps left over base. If you’re using a leftover base, simply place it in a bowl with a little water and wait for it to sprout.
Choose a pot that’s at least 10 inches deep and has good drainage. Fill it with a well-draining soil mix, such as a combination of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite. Once the bok choy has sprouted and has developed their first set of true leaves it’s time to pot them.
Plant the bok choy in the soil, positioning it so that the base is level with the soil surface. Space the plants about 6 inches apart to give them enough room to grow.
Bok choy prefers a location with full sun to partial shade. If you’re using grow lights, set them up to provide the bok choy with around 12-14 hours of light per day. Rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your bok choy plants receive equal light.
Water your bok choy regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, taking care to avoid overwatering which can lead to root rot. With the right care and attention, you’ll be enjoying home-grown bok choy in just a few weeks!
Onions – Just need the Root End
Onions can be grown from kitchen scraps, particularly the root end that is often discarded. To start, cut off the bottom of an onion (about half an inch from the root) and allow it to dry for a day or two. This process helps to prevent the onion from rotting when planted.
Choose a pot that’s at least 8 inches deep and has good drainage to accommodate the onion’s root system. Fill the pot with a well-draining soil mix, such as a combination of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite. Plant the onion root end about 2 inches deep into the soil, with the flat, cut end facing up and the roots facing down.
Onions prefer a location with full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. If you’re using grow lights, set them up to provide the onion with around 12-16 hours of light per day. Remember to rotate your pot regularly to ensure all sides of your onion plant receive equal light.
Water your onion regularly, enough to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, as too much water can lead to bulb rot. It’s crucial to maintain a good balance of moisture for onions as both under and overwatering can lead to poor growth. With the right care and conditions, you’ll have your own home-grown onions in a few months!
Happy Gardening!
Growing your vegetables from kitchen scraps is a fun and rewarding way to reduce waste, save money, and enjoy fresh produce. With patience and a bit of care, you can turn simple scraps into full-grown plants. So, next time you have vegetable scraps, don’t throw them out, give them a new life in your home or garden!
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