9 Foods You Can Regrow from Kitchen Scraps

Are you growing an edible garden? One easy way to save money is to grow some of your plants for free. How? From leftover food scraps that are often thrown away!

9 Foods You Can Regrow From Kitchen Scraps

You may already be composting your kitchen ‘waste’. That’s a great way to build healthy soil. However, it may save you money to be selective before throwing everything into your compost system. There are many plant parts that can help you propagate new plants. For minimal effort and no cost.

Why Should You Only Regrow Organic Food?

• First, a word of warning! For health reasons, I suggest you select organic vegetables, fruit and herbs. Too expensive? So is the cost of poor health! I think safe food is one of the best investments we can make.

• Sadly, non-organic produce is grown using chemicals. Not just one spray either. It’s commonly a cocktail of herbicides, fungicides, pesticides and other -icides. These are applied during the growth cycle and even after harvesting. These are often systemic chemicals. That means you can’t wash them off the skin.

• The chemicals are absorbed internally into the plant tissues through soil and water. Root crops like potatoes are especially vulnerable. Other crops are genetically modified or imported and radiated.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates

Grow Safe Food

• For example, non-organic potatoes are treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides at harvest time. Then more fungicides to stop the ‘eyes’ sprouting. This extends the shelf life in supermarkets, to boost profits at the expense of your health.

“I’ve talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals.” – Jeffrey Moyer, chair of the National Organic Standards Board

• Aside from the chemicals, conventional crops are often nutrient-deficient. Farmers focus on N-P-K (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) fertilisers. However, these create weaker plants because minor minerals and trace elements are overlooked. That means chemically-grown plants are lacking ALL the minerals required for plant and human health.

• If you are not yet growing your own food, consider supporting your local organic growers or retailers. Or join a local gardening, seed saving, crop swap or Permaculture group. Members often swap/share homegrown produce. A healthy diet starts with eating and growing safe food.

• If growing from seed, use certified organic or heirloom, GMO-free seed and plant material. Then you know you’re eating safe food.

I propagate free food regularly from my own garden. Why not give these foods you can regrow a try too?

CLICK BELOW for helpful safe seed resources

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 9 Foods You Can Regrow from Kitchen Scraps

1. Sweet potatoes and potatoes

Potatoes develop ‘eyes’ or sprouts. These eventually grow into stems and leaves. Once potatoes start sprouting, they go past being edible. That’s nature telling you they’re ready for planting!

Bury the sprouted tuber deep in your soil with some compost. Mulch well and keep watered. Keep covering the stems as they grow. This helps encourage more potatoes/sweet potatoes to grow.

Depending on the variety, one potato or sweet potato can yield you a minimum of 1kg+ of free homegrown food. My sweet potatoes are often 1-2kg each. Not a bad return on investment!

When potatoes and sweet potatoes develop ‘eyes’ they are ready to plant

2. Pineapples

Growing a new plant from a fresh pineapple is just so easy! Twist the top gently off a ripe pineapple. You may need gloves, as the leaves are spiky! Then remove a few small leaves from the base or underside of the leafy top.

You will see small brown hard ‘dots’ or ‘rootlets’ appear. Dry this leaf section out for a few days, so it won’t rot. Then replant it in well-drained soil in full sun. Roots will develop.

Regrow a pineapple from a pineapple top to save money

In time, a new plant will grow. Pineapples are very slow-growing, but are very drought-hardy. It takes 18 months to 2 years until they fruit.

The plant will also produce slips and suckers. These produce more new fruit in 18 months. Beautiful flowers form before fruit.

Water your plant well initially, add mulch and organic slow-release fertiliser or compost. Apply liquid seaweed every fortnight until it is established. Then be patient! The sweet reward will be worth it.

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3. Garlic

Do you have unused garlic cloves? Don’t waste them! Separate each clove from the bulb and plant individually. Each clove will yield one new bulb. A great value investment. For an easy tutorial, see my 5 Step Guide to Growing Gorgeous Garlic.

4. Leeks

If you buy leeks, select those that have the roots left ON. Cut the leek about 2cm above the roots and use the stem in your cooking. Soak the remaining root end in water overnight.

Leek regrowing after being in water for a few days

When the leek re-shoots, plant deeply, making sure to build up a little hill around the base. Put a stake in to keep the plant stable and watch the leek grow again.

When it flowers and forms seeds, save these and you will have more leeks to grow again for free! If you are harvesting leeks from your garden, leave the root in the soil. Use a knife to slice the base of the stem. Keep watered and you’ll have a new leek in far less time than growing from scratch.

5. Spring Onions/Shallots

Have you ever bought a bunch, only to find they are still in the fridge days later going waste? Just like leeks, if you trim the white stem about 4-5cm above the roots, it will regrow.

Put spring onion/shallots/scallions/green onion stems into a glass of water in a well-lit spot. Refresh water daily. The stems will re-shoot in just days. Enjoy this delicious herb in your meals right from your kitchen bench or plant out in the garden.

Follow my easy Guide to Growing Spring Onions tutorial for more tips.

6. Celery

Did you know celery will regrow if cut above the base of the stalks? Add the cut base to warm water in a shallow dish for a few days in a sunny spot. Wait until roots and new tiny leaves appear. Then plant out into well composted soil. Mulch and water well.

Celery needs a moist, sunny position and will keep you in luscious salad leaves for months.

Celery regrowing new leaves and roots from the base after sitting in water

7. Lemongrass

This fragrant herb is a favourite in Asian cuisine and herbal teas. Buy organic lemongrass stalks that still have a small root at the base. Avoid those that are trimmed off.

After you have used the top, more leaves can regrow! Put the stem in a glass or jar with a small amount of water to cover the root. Place in the sun until the plant re-shoots new leaves. Keep fresh water topped up. Plant out in your garden.

Lemongrass also makes a wonderful fragrant, pest-repellent mulch.

8. Ginger and Turmeric

Both these root vegetables can be grown from a rhizome or piece from a larger knob. Each ‘thumb’ piece should have two ‘eyes’ or buds developing.

Push the piece of ginger or turmeric gently into well-drained soil about 5cm (2 in) deep. Lightly cover with mulch. Position the buds facing upwards so these will grow shoots. The best time to plant is in spring.

Both appreciate some shade protection in warm climates. After 8-10 months, the plants will develop many new roots that you can break off. Enjoy using these, sell them or save more for replanting.

Ginger Growing Tips – From my experience, these are a few tips to growing an abundant ginger plant

9. Basil

Basil is such a popular herb and is so easy to propagate. Just put the stem cutting into a glass of water in a well-lit position. Make sure no leaves are below the waterline. Wait until the cutting starts to grow new roots. Then transplant it into a pot or your garden to grow a new basil plant.

“Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there.” – Thomas Fuller

There are lots more foods you can regrow and ways to save money on plants. Check out my article ‘Frugal Gardening – How to Get Plants for Free’ for more ideas!

• Planting Tips to Save you Time and Money
• Frugal Gardening – How to Get Plants for Free
• How to Grow More Plants for Less
• Frugal Gardening – 5 Thrifty Recycling Ideas
• 20 Creative Ways to Upcycle Pallets in your Garden
• DIY Fertilisers – How to Use Banana Peels
• Easy DIY Potting Mix Recipe
• 10 Smart Tips to Garden on a Budget

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© Copyright Anne Gibson, The Micro Gardener 2016. https://themicrogardener.com. All rights reserved.

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