Did you know that many of the vegetable scraps you trim and toss into the compost bin can easily regenerate into fresh, crisp produce right on your kitchen windowsill? Regrowing vegetables from scraps is fun, eco-friendly, and saves you money on groceries.
Top 10 Vegetables to Regrow at Home
1. Green Onions (Scallions) — The Easiest!
Save the white root base (about 1.5 inches). Place it upright in a small glass with 1/2 inch of water. In just 5 to 7 days on a sunny windowsill, new green shoots will grow back to full size.
2. Celery
Cut the bottom 2 inches of a celery bunch. Place it root-side down in a shallow bowl of water. In 7 days, crisp yellow-green leaves emerge from the center. Transplant into potting soil for thick stalks.
3. Romaine & Butterhead Lettuce
Place the cut lettuce stump in a shallow dish of water. New leaves will begin sprouting from the center within 4 to 6 days.
4. Garlic Greens
When garlic cloves begin to sprout green tips, don’t throw them out! Place sprouted cloves in a small cup with a little water. They will produce fragrant garlic scapes perfect for stir-fries and salads.
5. Leeks
Just like green onions, leek root bases regenerate quickly in water and can be harvested multiple times.
6. Bok Choy
Cut the base of the bok choy head and place it in water. Within 2 weeks, fresh tender baby leaves are ready to harvest.
7. Basil & Mint Stems
Place 4-inch herb stem cuttings in a cup of water. Roots will form in a week, giving you new starter plants for your herb pots.
8. Carrot Tops (For Edible Greens)
Carrot roots won’t regrow, but carrot crowns placed in shallow water produce delicate, feathery greens packed with vitamin C for homemade chimichurri.
9. Ginger & Turmeric Rhizomes
Soak rhizome pieces with green eye buds in warm water overnight, then plant in moist soil for perennial ginger harvests.
10. Sweet Potato Vines
Suspend a sweet potato with toothpicks half-submerged in a glass of water to sprout lush, trailing sweet potato slips.
Golden Care Rule for Regrowing in Water
Change the water in your glasses every 2 to 3 days to prevent stagnant water, mold, and bacterial growth!
