Did you know that many of the foods you purchase regularly can be regrown from kitchen scraps? Regrowing your own vegetables, herbs, and fruits not only saves money but also reduces food waste and promotes sustainable living.
With just a bit of water, soil, and sunlight, you can turn your kitchen into a mini garden and enjoy fresh produce year-round.
Here are 13 foods you can buy once and regrow forever.
1. Green Onions
Green onions are one of the easiest vegetables to regrow. Once you’ve used the green tops, save the white bulbs with the roots attached. Green onions regrow quickly and can be harvested multiple times.
How to Regrow:
Place the white bulbs with roots in a glass of water, making sure the roots are submerged but the tops are above water. Place the glass near sunlight and watch them sprout new greens in just a few days. Replace the water every few days and harvest when the tops are fully grown.
2. Garlic
Garlic is another kitchen staple that can be regrown with ease. A single garlic clove can yield an entire bulb over time, giving you a continuous supply of fresh garlic.
How to Regrow:
Plant a garlic clove (root end down) in soil, about 2 inches deep. Place the pot in a sunny spot and water regularly. Over several months, the clove will grow into a full garlic bulb. You can also regrow garlic greens, which are perfect for cooking.
3. Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce can be regrown from the leftover base of the lettuce head. Instead of tossing it in the compost, use it to regrow fresh leaves for salads.
How to Regrow:
Place the lettuce base in a shallow dish with about 1 inch of water. Place the dish in a sunny spot and refresh the water every few days. After a week, you’ll see new leaves sprouting from the center. Transplant it into soil for continued growth.
4. Celery
Celery is another vegetable that can regrow from its base. With just a bit of water and sunlight, you can produce fresh celery in your home.
How to Regrow:
Cut off the base of the celery and place it in a shallow dish of water. Keep it in a sunny area, and within a week, you’ll notice new leaves sprouting from the center. Transplant the celery into soil to encourage further growth.
5. Potatoes
Potatoes can be regrown from small pieces of leftover potatoes that have “eyes” (small sprouts). Each piece can produce multiple new potatoes.
How to Regrow:
Cut a potato into pieces, ensuring each piece has at least one or two eyes. Let the pieces dry for a day, then plant them in soil about 4 inches deep. Water regularly, and within a few months, you’ll harvest a new crop of potatoes.
6. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be regrown in a similar way to regular potatoes, and they also produce leafy greens that are edible and nutritious.
How to Regrow:
Cut a sweet potato in half and suspend it in a jar of water using toothpicks so that half is submerged. Place it in a sunny spot, and in a few weeks, sprouts (called “slips”) will grow. Once the slips are a few inches long, you can plant them in soil to grow more sweet potatoes.
7. Carrot Tops
While you can’t regrow whole carrots from scraps, you can regrow their leafy tops, which are great for garnishes, soups, and salads.
How to Regrow:
Cut the tops off your carrots, leaving about 1 inch of the carrot attached. Place the tops in a shallow dish of water and place it in a sunny spot. In a few days, green leaves will begin to grow.
8. Basil
Basil is an herb that regrows easily from cuttings. Once you’ve purchased a bunch of basil, you can continue to grow new plants from the stems.
How to Regrow:
Place basil stems with at least 4 inches of length in a glass of water. Place the glass in sunlight, and roots will begin to form in about a week. Once the roots are 2 inches long, transplant the stems into soil.
9. Cilantro
Cilantro is another herb that can regrow from cuttings, ensuring you always have fresh herbs for your favorite dishes.
How to Regrow:
Place cilantro stems in a glass of water, just like basil. After the roots grow a few inches long, transfer the stems to soil. Cilantro grows quickly and can be harvested within a few weeks.
10. Leeks
Leeks, similar to green onions, can be regrown from the root end. They are low-maintenance and will provide a fresh supply of leeks in your kitchen.
How to Regrow:
Place the root end of the leek in a glass of water, ensuring the roots are submerged. Place the glass in a sunny spot, and new green leaves will start to grow. Once they’ve grown a few inches, transplant the leek into soil.
11. Ginger
Ginger can be regrown from a small piece of ginger root. Over time, this piece will grow into a new plant, providing you with fresh ginger for years.
How to Regrow:
Plant a small piece of ginger root with a bud facing up, about 1 inch deep in soil. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in indirect sunlight. In a few weeks, new shoots will begin to grow, and eventually, you’ll have a full ginger plant.
12. Pineapple
Pineapple is a tropical fruit that can be regrown from its leafy top. Though it takes time, you can grow a new pineapple plant right at home.
How to Regrow:
Twist off the top of a pineapple and remove any excess fruit flesh. Let it dry for a day, then place it in a jar of water or plant it directly in soil. Pineapples take time to grow, but with patience and care, you’ll have a fresh, homegrown pineapple in about 2 years.
13. Green Peppers
Bell peppers and other varieties of peppers can be regrown from the seeds inside the fruit. Once planted, they’ll provide a continuous supply of fresh peppers.
How to Regrow:
Save the seeds from a ripe bell pepper and allow them to dry. Plant the seeds in soil, keeping them warm and well-watered. Once the seedlings are established, transfer them to larger pots or your garden.
Regrowing food from kitchen scraps is an easy and sustainable way to keep your produce supply fresh and continuous.