Plant and regrow vegetable scraps: Celery, spring onions, lettuce, carrots & many other types can be easily rooted and upcycled.
It's hard to believe, but many vegetables from the supermarket grow back almost infinitely with simple means. Because the lower end or the stalk of spring onions, celery, beetroot and Co. can easily be rooted in water and then planted out in a container of your choice. This is how you can breathe new life into actual “kitchen scraps” that would otherwise end up in the compost.
In recent years, awareness of waste and recycling has grown steadily. With that in mind, there are more and more people who are reusing their leftover veggies and regrowing them. In itself, it is very easy to breathe new life into the vegetable sections and plant and grow them in your own garden or on your own balcony. This is not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet. This means you always have freshly grown vegetables to hand. Incidentally, this also works if you don’t have a garden or balcony: leftover vegetables can also grow back on the windowsill!
You can find which types of vegetables are particularly suitable for regrowing in the detailed cultivation instructions below. However, herbs and even types of fruit can also be used in this way: be it pineapple tufts or mango and avocado pits.
Growing Instructions for Regrowing Leftover Vegetables:
- Regrow Celery: The stalk should be at least 5cm long and placed in a glass of warm water for 5 to 7 days. The water should be changed at least once during this period. The celery is then transplanted into soil. There it forms roots within the coming weeks and grows steadily. If you have a little more space in the garden, you can cover your own needs with about 10 recycled celery plants.
Plant romaine lettuce: Leave the stalk, which is at least 5cm long, for 5 to 10Infuse days in a jar. During this time, the plant forms the so-called cambium on the cut surface and sets the first roots. After this time, place the lettuce in vegetable soil and keep it slightly moist at all times.
3. Regrow Onion: The section of onion should be at least 4cm x 4cm in area and 2cm high. Unlike the other vegetable sections, the onion can be planted directly in soil.
Plant spring onions: For successful regrowth, the spring onions should also remain at least 5cm in length. The fresher the roots at the end of the bulbs, the better the chances of he althy, regrowing plants. Place the sections in a glass of lukewarm water for 5 to 7 days, changing the water at least once. The spring onions can then be planted in the substrate.
5. Leek regrowth: The same procedure applies here as for spring onions.
Plant kohlrabi: The section of kohlrabi should have a base area of at least 4 cm x 4 cm and be about 2 to 3 cm high. Kohlrabi can also be planted directly into the ground and does not require a water bath.
7. Let potatoes grow back: Who doesn't know this: You bought too many potatoes and can't use them up fast enough. If the potatoes are stored in a light and warm place, the tubers will quickly form sprouts and become wrinkled. No reason to discard the tubers. These can also be planted out without any problems, where new tubers will form.
8. Plant carrots: The section of carrots must be at least 3 to 5 cm long. In the water, the carrot develops new green after a few days. Then it is ready to be planted out in soil. Roots follow after about 2 to 3 weeks. The regrown green is very useful, especially for owners of rodents. The little animals really like it.
9. Growing back sweet potatoes: From the trendy vegetable sweet potatoa small section is enough to successfully regrow it. After about 15 days in water, the piece of sweet potato takes root and forms shoots.
10. Grow basil: Basil can also be easily propagated by cuttings. The lower, larger leaves are removed from the 5 cm long shoots and the upper, small leaves are left on the shoot. After 15 to 20 days, basil will root and can be planted in a pot with soil.
11. Regrow Chinese cabbage: Chinese cabbage can also be reused. However, only leaves and no compact head form from the shoots. The leaves are still very tasty and can be used as stir-fry vegetables. For Chinese cabbage to root, the section should be at least 4 cm x 4 cm and 2 to 3 cm high. The lower part of the section should always be in contact with water. The first shoots form after 15 days.
12. Growing back beetroot: Anyone who loves beetroot will be amazed that it is so easy to breathe new life into the tuber. However, only in rare cases does a completely intact tuber form from the planted section. However, fresh leaves can be used as a side salad.
Finally, some general tips for successfully regrowing leftover veggies:
- The respective vegetable section should be large enough so that the plant has enough energy to form roots and shoots.
- If you root the vegetable cuttings in water, the water should be changed every few days, otherwise there is a risk of rotting.
- If you put the recycled vegetables in soil, it must always be kept slightly moist. The plants still lack roots, which is why they wither quickly in dry conditions.
- Special heating mats are very helpful, as they make it much easier for the plants to develop roots.
- Small grow houses can also be used for optimal humidity. These often fit on the window sill.
- It also makes sense to purchase special growing soil, as this also has a positive effect on root formation.
You can also do indoor plants quite welleasy to multiply at home. We have summarized for you in one article how you can grow indoor plants from cuttings and which plants are best suited for this.