Self Sufficient Sweetie

5 plants you can grow from scraps!

Hello, fellow garden enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into the wonderful world of kitchen scraps gardening. Did you know that you can grow a variety of delicious vegetables right from the comfort of your own kitchen using scraps from your produce? It’s not only a fun and rewarding way to reduce waste but also a fantastic way to enjoy fresh, homegrown veggies without ever stepping foot outside. Join me as we explore five vegetables you can grow from kitchen scraps, along with simple directions to get started.

1. Lettuce:
   • Save the base of a head of lettuce, about 1-2 inches from the bottom.
   • Place it in a shallow dish with water, ensuring that the base is submerged halfway.
   • Keep the dish in a sunny spot and change the water every day.
   • In just a few days, you’ll notice new growth emerging from the center.
   • Once the roots are established and new leaves have formed, transplant the lettuce into a pot with soil, leaving the top of the lettuce exposed.
   • Harvest leaves as needed for fresh salads.
2. Green Onions (Scallions):
   • Save the white root ends of green onions after using the tops in your recipes.
   • Place the root ends in a glass or jar with about an inch of water.
   • Set the glass in a sunny window and change the water every couple of days.
   • Within a week or so, you’ll start to see new growth emerging from the roots.
   • Simply snip off the green tops as needed for garnishing dishes, and your green onions will continue to regrow indefinitely.
3. Celery:
   • Cut off the base of a bunch of celery, leaving about 2 inches from the bottom.
   • Place the base in a shallow dish or jar filled with water, ensuring that the base is submerged halfway.
   • Set the dish in a sunny location and change the water every couple of days.
   • After about a week, you’ll notice new leaves sprouting from the center of the base.
   • Once the roots are established, transplant the celery into a pot with soil, leaving the top exposed.
   • Harvest stalks as needed for cooking and snacking.
4. Carrots:
   • Save the top portion of a carrot with the greens intact.
   • Place the carrot top in a shallow dish with water, ensuring that the top is submerged halfway.
   • Set the dish in a sunny spot and change the water every few days. In a week or two, you’ll start to see new green shoots emerging from the top of the carrot.
   • While you won’t regrow a full carrot from the top, you can enjoy harvesting the nutritious carrot greens to add flavor to salads, soups, and pesto.
5. Garlic Greens:
   • Save the cloves from a head of garlic and place them in a shallow dish or pot filled with soil.
   • Plant the cloves with the pointed end facing up and the flat end facing down, about an inch deep.
   • Water the soil regularly to keep it moist but not waterlogged.
   • In a few weeks, you’ll notice green shoots emerging from the soil.
   • These garlic greens can be harvested and used like chives or scallions to add flavor to a variety of dishes.

Growing vegetables from kitchen scraps is not only a fun and eco-friendly activity but also a great way to enjoy fresh produce right from your own kitchen. With just a few simple steps, you can transform your kitchen scraps into thriving plants that will provide you with delicious veggies to enjoy in your meals. So next time you’re cooking, don’t toss those scraps—give them new life in your indoor garden!

Happy gardening!

Stay tuned for more gardening tips and inspiration from your friendly neighborhood master gardener @selfsufficientsweetie!