You don’t need a huge backyard, or a backyard at all, to grow your own food. Many herbs and vegetables, and even fruit trees, can be grown in pots and containers on a balcony or in a small courtyard. Some herbs and vegetables can even be grown indoors on a sunny window sill, which is great news for apartment dwellers looking to become a bit more self-sufficient.
What’s more is that you don’t necessarily need seedlings to grow your own little veggie garden. Sometimes, all you need is leftovers! Turning certain food scraps into fresh produce – a hack that went viral on Instagram a few years ago – is an example of how easy it can be to grow your own food and reduce food waste while you’re at it. Gardening projects like this are also a great way to get kids interested in gardening. You could also try growing an avocado from seed!
Here we give you a quick rundown on how to regrow vegetables using your valuable scraps and leftover pieces.
What vegetables can you grow from scraps?
There are a number of vegetables you can regrow from scrap pieces with the right care. Some sprout new edible leaves from the top of the plant while others sprout new shoots from the bottom. Here’s a list of each:
Bottoms
- Garlic
- Bok choy
- Romaine lettuce
- Celery
- Spring onion
- Fennel
- Chinese cabbage
- Leek
Tops
- Beetroot
- Carrot
- Raddish
- Turnip
How to regrow vegetables from scraps
Turning your leftovers into fresh veggies is easier thank you think! Here’s how to do it:
What you’ll need
- Small glass jars or dishes
- Vegetable tops and bottoms (cut to 1-3 inches)
What to do
Place the ends or tops of your chosen vegetables (from the list above) in a dish filled with about an inch of fresh water. Place them in a sunny spot, like your kitchen window.
Then, all you need to do is change the water daily and watch your vegetable offcuts, which would’ve been destined for the compost or bin, start sprouting new leaves and eventually regrowing completely.
Can you grow potatoes from peelings?
Yes, it is entirely possible to grow potatoes just from the peelings! However, you’ll need potato skin with ‘eyes’, or in other words, sprouts, before planting the peelings. It’s also recommended to use high-quality seed potatoes as many store-bought ones carry diseases and are therefore not suitable for planting.
Can you grow chillies from dried seeds?
Yes, you can grow chilli plants from dried seeds; all you need to do is remove the seeds from a ripe chilli pepper, leave them on a paper towel to dry and then plant them! However, many hobby gardeners note difficulty growing seeds from store-bought chillis.
