Unknown to many, you can grow brand new fruit and veg from the scraps you’ll find in your kitchen. These odds and ends are surprisingly easy to regrow.6 Produce Scraps You Can Regrow

Unknown to many, you can grow brand new fruit and veg from the scraps you’ll find in your kitchen. These odds and ends are surprisingly easy to regrow, minimising food waste and saving you a trip to the supermarket.

Spring Onions

Possibly the easiest of them all, spring onions can be regrown from their white base in a small jar of water. No soil necessary, you’ll have fresh spring onions within a couple of weeks. Just pop around 3cm of the white base in a glass of water, and wait for the magic to happen.

Lettuce

Place the root of your lettuce in water and leave it on your sunny windowsill. You’ll need to change the water every other day, but within a couple of weeks the base will sprout new leaves and roots, meaning it’s ready to be put in some soil. We recommend waiting to harvest the leaves until they’re around 10cm long.

Seeded Produce

Some fruit and veg have seeds that we’re happy to eat without a second thought: think tomatoes, chillies, and berries. However, there’s many others we throw out (pepper, pumpkin, and lemon to name a few). Amazingly, all of these can be regrown. Be sure to always rinse and dry your seeds to remove any of the vegetable flesh and help prevent rotting. Pop them in some soil, and water regularly. You’ll need to experiment and have patience with these - some prefer a dark, humid home while others love a sunny windowsill.

Herbs

Many herbs can be regrown from a single cutting and some water. Mint and basil are the fastest and can be regrown any time of the year. You’ll want to cut your stem just below a node (where the leaves grow from) and place it in some water in a spot with indirect sunlight. Once you notice new roots and leaves, transfer it to some soil.

Ginger

If you notice your ginger is a little wrinkled and past its best for eating, you can regrow it in a wide, shallow pot with soil. Your ginger will need at least one bumpy protrusion and to be potted flat and close to the soil surface (1cm below). Ginger thrives best in a humid environment with lots of sun and can take around 8-10 months until it’s ready for harvest.

Garlic

Similarly to ginger, your forgotten-about garlic that’s gone a little too dry for cooking is perfect for regrowing into a new bulb. Place your cloves (skin on) upright in shallow water with just the base submerged. Keep them on your sunny windowsill and water every other day. Soon they’ll grow shoots with a fresh, garlic flavour which can be used in pestos or as garnishes. However, if it’s full bulbs you want then you’ll need to pot these sprouting cloves in some soil and wait for the leaves to turn yellow before harvesting (usually around 9 months).