8 Vegetables You Can Regrow: How to Save Money and Reduce Waste
Have you ever tossed out a vegetable that has started to sprout or wilt? Did you know that you can actually regrow many of these vegetables instead of throwing them away? Not only is this a great way to reduce waste, but it can also save you money on your grocery bill. In this article, we'll explore eight different vegetables that you can regrow, along with tips on how to do it.
1. Lettuce
Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to regrow. Simply take the base of a head of lettuce and place it in a shallow bowl of water. Make sure the water covers the bottom inch of the lettuce. Place the bowl in a sunny spot and change the water every few days. Within a week or two, you should start to see new leaves growing from the center of the lettuce. Once the new leaves are a few inches tall, you can transplant the lettuce into soil.
One important thing to note is that you shouldn't expect the regrown lettuce to be as large or robust as a brand new head of lettuce. However, regrowing lettuce is still a great way to get more use out of a vegetable that might otherwise go to waste.
2. Carrots
Did you know that you can regrow carrots from carrot tops? Cut off the top inch of a carrot and place it in a shallow dish of water. Within a few days, you should see green shoots emerging from the top of the carrot. Once the shoots are a few inches tall, you can transplant the carrot top into soil. With a little patience, you should begin to see new carrots growing within a few months.
While it's true that regrown carrots may be smaller than store-bought carrots, they're still delicious and fun to grow!
3. Celery
Celery is another vegetable that can be easily regrown. Cut off the base of a head of celery and place it in a shallow dish of water. Change the water every few days and keep the dish in a sunny location. Within a week or two, you should start to see new leaves growing from the center of the celery. Once the leaves are a few inches tall, you can transfer the celery to soil.
Again, it's important to note that regrown celery may not be as large or hearty as fresh celery from the store, but it can still be a fun project to try at home.
4. Potatoes
You might be surprised to learn that you can regrow potatoes from scraps! Take any potato that has at least one "eye" (which looks like a small indentation) and cut it into pieces, making sure that each piece has at least one eye. Allow the cut pieces to dry for a day or two, then plant them in soil with the eyes facing up. Keep the soil moist and wait for new potatoes to grow!
Keep in mind that potatoes can take several months to mature, so this isn't a quick project. But if you have the time and space, regrowing potatoes can be a fun way to experiment with gardening.
5. Scallions
If you love scallions (also known as green onions), you'll be happy to know that they're very easy to regrow. Simply take the white ends of the scallions and place them in a glass of water. Change the water every few days and keep the glass in a sunny location. Within a week or two, you should start to see new growth. Once the scallions are a few inches tall, you can cut off what you need and let them continue to regrow.
This is a great way to get more use out of scallions and avoid buying them at the store.
6. Garlic
Garlic is another vegetable that can be regrown from a single clove. Plant individual cloves of garlic in soil, making sure that the pointed end is facing up. Keep the soil damp and place the garlic in a sunny location. Within a few weeks, you should see shoots emerging from the soil. As the garlic grows, you can trim back the shoots to encourage the growth of the bulb.
Garlic takes several months to mature, so this is another project that requires patience. But once your garlic has grown, you can use it in all sorts of delicious recipes.
7. Onions
Onions are another vegetable that can be regrown from scraps. Take the root end of an onion (the part with the little hairy roots) and plant it in soil with the pointy end facing up. Keep the soil moist and place the onion in a sunny location. Within a few weeks, you should see new growth emerging from the soil. Once the onion has fully regrown, you can harvest it and enjoy a fresh, homegrown onion.
Like potatoes and garlic, onions can take several months to grow, so you'll need to be patient. But the end result is definitely worth it!
8. Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are one of the easiest vegetables to regrow. Simply take the seeds from a bell pepper and plant them in soil. Keep the soil moist and place the pepper in a sunny location. Within a few weeks, you should see new growth emerging from the soil. Once the plant is a few inches tall, you can transplant it into its own pot or into your garden.
Just like with lettuce, don't expect your regrown bell peppers to be as large as store-bought peppers. However, it's still a fun way to get more use out of a vegetable that might otherwise go to waste.
So there you have it - eight different vegetables that you can regrow at home. Not only is regrowing vegetables a great way to reduce food waste, but it can also save you money and add some fun to your gardening routine. Give it a try and see what you can grow!
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