5 Vegetables (And 3 Herbs!) You Can Easily Regrow In Water

Next time you’re about to toss out veggie scraps, consider giving them one more shot (or shoot?). It’s possible to regrow a variety of vegetables and herbs in water, whether for producing a few shoots for eating or garnishing or for enticing roots to grow so these hardy growers can be replanted in your garden for a brand new harvest.

Before you get started, there are a few things to keep in mind. First up, you’ll want to start with high-quality organic produce (scraps, seeds, stems) for the best results as some non-organic produce may have been grown with chemicals that discourage regrowth. Keeping your water fresh and keeping an eye out for any sliminess will also be key. Last but not least, if you’ve been tending your veggie and herb scraps for a couple weeks with no regrowth to show for it, it’s best to toss or compost it and start over.

https://www.southernliving.com/garden/plants/easy-plants-to-grow-from-clippings

Carrots

A small carrot top can’t produce a new carrot, but it can grow delicate greens for eating or garnishing other dishes. The next time you have a few freshly cut carrot tops, place them in a dish of water being mindful to ensure the tops do not become submerged.  Change the water every two days or so as you wait for your greens to reach their full potential.

Romaine Lettuce

You won’t be able to regrow an entire head of lettuce from the scraps of another, but you will be able to produce tasty, tender leaves for supplementing other greens in salads, as garnish, and more. Start with a base of romaine that is about 2 inches in length. Place the base in a dish filled with an inch of water. It’s important to find a spot where the romaine will get plenty of sunlight and warmth, so choose your windowsill wisely. Romaine is a rapid grower both in-ground and out, so you’ll likely start to see new growth within just a few days. Be sure to keep the water fresh, changing it every two days.

Celery

Celery is a favorite for regrowing in water as replanting in soil can be a tricky feat to pull off. Start with an intact celery base of about 2-inches in length. Use toothpicks to suspend the lower half of the base in a cup or bowl of water. Replace the water every two to three days, watching out for any sliminess. You can expect sprouts to appear in about two to three weeks and roots shortly thereafter if not at the same time. Once your stalk has roots, you can either replant it in soil or continue growing it in water. Celery can be a finicky crop so beware of replanting as you’ll need to avoid repotting shock, temperatures that are too warm or cold, and too much sunlight.

Scallions

Scallions can be grown in water or planted straight in the ground. When growing in water, simply place the white bulb with an inch or two of the light green stem in a small dish of water. Position it on a windowsill where it will receive plenty of sunlight. The stems can be snipped off as they grow. Alternatively, you can replant the little bulbs you started with in a pot with soil for growing either indoors or out.

Potatoes

Sprouting potatoes—not great for eating, perfect for regrowing. Place three or four toothpicks a couple inches above the end of the potato with the most sprouts. The toothpicks will help suspend your potato in water without completely submerging it, so ensure you have enough to support the spud. Find a cup with a rim that’s wide enough to hold the potato and give the toothpicks stable footing on the rim of the glass. Place the glass on a sunny windowsill and keep it full of fresh water. Once it starts sprouting leaves you can replant your potato plant in soil, taking extra care not to damage the new roots in the process.

Herbs

Basil, rosemary, and sage are ideal herbs for regrowing in water. You can create even more of these hardy herbs by cutting a healthy stem of about 3- to 4-inches long, trimming it off just below the leaf node. Remove the lower leaves before placing the stem in a glass of clean water. It might take a few weeks for the roots to appear. In the meantime, be sure to replace the water every two days. When you can see roots, your herb is ready for potting.