Regrowing

Petya Ivanova

You don’t need seeds to start growing your own vegetables. You can use scraps of vegetables you’d normally discard to regrow a whole new plant. This is a fun project to get all the family involved, and is a brilliant way to teach kids about sustainability. 8 You don’t need a large outdoor space or any tools. A lot can be done even without soil! All you need are some jars, water, and for some foods, a space outdoors to plant them eventually. It is really easy – and a handy idea if you can’t get your hands on any seeds right now. It may take some trial and error to get it right, but it is definitely an easy introduction to gardening.

What exactly can be regrown?

Carrots, onions and lettuce can all be regrown from the tiniest of scraps. So can leeks, beets, fresh herbs, green onions, ginger, garlic, squash and so much more. The possibilities are almost endless. When looking to see if you can regrow a specific fruit or veggie, you have to look for a point that can grow into stems, branches and eventually, new leaves or flowers.

Transform your food scraps!

Here are easy opportunities to start regrowing food from home:

NOTE: Use organic fruits and vegetables for the best results.

Green onions, lemongrass, leeks, fennel, coriander, basil, mint and spring onions:

• Place the root ends in water, but don’t fully submerge the veg/herb.

• Change the water daily. • In 1 - 2 weeks, growth begins.

• Place roots in soil, and water when the topsoil is dry. • Harvest the greens when full, then repeat the process. • Cut off what you need without uprooting the plant.

Celery, cabbage, romaine lettuce and bok choy:

• Submerge the roots, leaving the tops above the water line. • Spray with water a couple of times a week, replacing the water every few days. • Leaves will sprout in about a week. • Plant the cutting with only the leaves above the soil. • Harvest when fully grown, about 5 months.

Onion:

• Place the root end in soil, and lightly cover it. • Keep the soil moist. • Carefully separate the new onions, leaving the roots attached, and plant them out. • Occasionally, cut the leaves down to promote full growth. • It can take up to 5 months for plants to mature enough for harvest.

Ginger:

• Soak the chunk of ginger overnight in water. • Submerge in moist soil. • Keep watering until shoots appear. • Ready to harvest in a year. • Simply remove the entire plant, use what you need and repeat.

Garlic:

• The larger the clove, the larger the bulb that will grow from it. • Sit the plant on a sunny window sill, keeping the soil moist and the clove lightly covered.