Regrowing vegetables from kitchen scraps is a simple, sustainable way to keep your kitchen stocked with fresh produce. Not only does it save you money, but it also reduces food waste and gives you the satisfaction of growing your own ingredients. With a few common supplies and a sunny spot many vegetable scraps can transform into thriving plants.
Here are twelve easy vegetables you can regrow right at home, whether on your windowsill or in your garden.
Green Onions
Green onions are among the easiest to regrow. Simply place the white root ends in a glass with a small amount of water, and they’ll sprout within days. Keep them in a sunny spot and clean the water regularly. They grow best between 68-77°F, which makes them ideal for indoor settings. Green onions can be repeatedly trimmed back, providing a sustainable source of fresh greens.
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce can regrow quickly from its base. Place the leftover base in a shallow water dish, keeping it in a spot with indirect sunlight. New leaves will emerge within a week. Once the roots form, transplant them into the soil for more substantial growth. Romaine thrives between 60-70°F, ideal for mild climates or indoor cultivation. Be sure to water it regularly, as lettuce requires moist soil for optimal growth.
Celery
To regrow celery, submerge the bottom of the stalk in water and keep it in a warm, sunny spot. You’ll notice new leaves sprout from the center within a few weeks. Celery grows best between 65-75°F and can be moved into the soil once roots develop. Celery requires regular watering and sunlight, so place it in a well-lit area and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Carrot Tops
While you can’t regrow an entire carrot, the leafy tops are perfect for salads or garnishes. Place the top of a carrot in a shallow water dish with a sunny window nearby. Carrot greens prefer cooler temperatures, around 55-75°F, making them suitable for indoor growth. They grow best in moderate sunlight and consistent moisture in the soil.
Garlic Sprouts
If you have garlic cloves that have started sprouting, you can use them to grow garlic greens. Plant them in soil with the sprouted end up, keeping them in a sunny area. Garlic thrives in temperatures around 50°F. The green shoots are milder than garlic cloves and are perfect for seasoning—water sparingly, as garlic prefers drier conditions. A single clove can produce multiple harvests of fresh garlic greens over time.
Basil
Basil stems can be regrown by placing a few cuttings in water near a south-facing window, where they’ll get ample sunlight. Roots will appear within a week, after which you can transplant the sprouted stems into the soil. Basil grows best in warm temperatures, around 70-85°F, and can add fresh flavor to many dishes. This method offers a steady supply of basil leaves, reducing the need to buy bunches from the store.
Potatoes
Potatoes with “eyes” can be planted directly in the soil to grow new plants. Cut a potato into pieces with at least one eye on each piece, let them dry for a day, and then plant them in the soil. Potatoes grow well between 60-70°F and need plenty of sunlight. This method yields more potatoes from just one scrap, making it practical and rewarding.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can sprout slips, small stems that can be replanted. Place the sweet potato in water, submerging half of it, and place it in a sunny spot. Roots and shoots will develop within weeks. Sweet potatoes grow well in warm climates, ideally 85-95°F. Each slip can be replanted to yield a fresh crop, making it a sustainable source for future harvests.
Leeks
Leeks are easy to regrow from the leftover root end. Place it in a glass of water with just the root submerged, and new growth will appear in days. Leeks grow best in temperatures between 55-75°F. They don’t require soil for initial development. Within a week, green shoots will start to grow from the top. Once the roots become increasingly robust, the next step is to transfer the leek to the soil for continued growth.
Ginger
Ginger roots must be planted directly into the soil for growing a new plant. The first step is to bury a piece with a few buds in the soil, and to keep it in a warm, humid area, around 75-85°F. Within a few weeks, shoots will emerge and the roots will expand underground. Ginger’s long growth cycle may take months to harvest, but the fresh root will be far more flavorful than store-bought ginger.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers can be regrown from seeds found inside mature peppers. To begin with, collect the seeds and allow them to dry for a few days. Then, plant the dried seeds about 1/4 inch deep in a pot of well-draining soil. The key point is to place the pot in a warm, sunny spot, as bell peppers thrive between 70-80°F. Care must be taken to keep the soil consistently moist, but it is also important to avoid overwatering. Once the seedlings grow a few inches taller, the next step is to transplant them outdoors into a sunny garden bed or a larger pot.
Lemongrass
Place the stalk in a glass of water to regrow lemongrass and leave it in a sunny spot. Roots and new leaves will appear in two weeks, after which you can plant them in the soil. Lemongrass grows well in warmer temperatures, between 64-90°F. This method provides a steady supply of lemongrass for cooking without repeated store purchases.