Vegetables You Can Propagate from Scraps

In an era where sensationalizing content is a guaranteed way to boost engagement and monetization, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to distinguish between what’s reality and what’s unrealistic expectation. Those lush trees that sprout from seeds within weeks hardly seem feasible, and any attempts to recreate them are at one’s peril. 

You might be thinking that there’s not much use for kitchen scraps, unless you’re using a kitchen composter to put your food waste to good use. But there’s also another use for those sad scraps: you can use them to regrow new vegetables. Before you discard your kitchen scraps, here’s a few vegetables you can regrow right from your countertop. 

1. Green Onions (Scallions)

Green onions are one of the easiest vegetables to regrow from scraps – you can grow it in a corner without premium light and it will still shoot upwards. Take the bottom part with the roots still attached and place it in a shallow jar of water. Within a week or two, you should see new shoots sprouting up. They will have a decent amount of flavor for the first few times, but take note that they do eventually lose their flavor. 

2. Lettuce  

Lettuce is easily regrown from scraps, but the new iteration will be a diminished version, with fewer leaves and carrying a relentlessly bitter flavor. Nevertheless, you can try regrowing it as an experiment and report back on whether the taste has deteriorated. Leave a couple inches at the base and place this romaine heart in water. After 10-12 days, the lettuce will have reached the maximum length – enough to be used in a sandwich. 

3. Carrots

Regrowing carrot greens from the tops of store-bought carrots is generally considered a useless endeavor, but don’t be too quick to toss them away. The root part won’t regrow; only the leafy greens will, which can then be used as garnish in salads, soups, and pesto. Place the top of a carrot in a shallow dish with a little water, ensuring the top is submerged while the rest of the carrot remains above the water. If planted in soil, it’ll attract a huge number of beneficial pollinators like lacewings and hoverflies. 

4. Celery

Celery is another vegetable that’s easy to propagate from scraps. After cutting the stalks, save the bottom part of the celery (about 3 inches from the base). Place the bottom in a shallow dish with a small amount of water, making sure the base is submerged. Within a few days, you’ll notice new growth starting to appear from the center of the celery. The celery may have a stronger taste due to lack of blanching, so it’s recommended you use it for soups or similar to an herb. 

5. Potatoes

Most root vegetables like rutabagas appear as distasteful and odd, but fortunately, potatoes carry no such stigma. Small potatoes can be propagated whole, while larger ones are cut so that each piece has at least one “eye” (the small buds on the surface). Let the pieces sit out for a few days to dry and form a callus over the cut edges to prevent rotting. After that, plant the pieces in the soil, burying them about 3–4 inches deep. Raised garden beds are recommended, as they offer an easy way to create trenches within them. 

6. Ginger

Neither a fruit nor a vegetable, ginger is a rhizome that grows beneath the soil. It’s not the most popular of ingredients, but it still adds depth to dishes. Save a piece (organic is recommended) with at least one eye or root beginning to form. Place the root in a container with loamy, well-draining soil to help develop large rhizomes, burying it just slightly beneath the surface. Keep it in a warm, humid spot, and be sure to water it regularly. After ten months, the roots can be harvested. Ginger can actually be sustained for years – cut off a little piece, then rebury the rest into the soil. 

7. Herbs (Basil, Mint, etc.)

Many herbs from the mint family, such as basil, mint, and oregano, grow readily from cuttings. Take soft cuttings about four inches long using scissors or a hori hori knife, cutting the stem at a 45° angle. Remove the lower leaves and place it in a glass of water. Change the water every few days. In about a week, you should see roots starting to form. Once the roots are long enough, you can plant the cutting in soil in a herb planter to yield a full plant. 

8. Sweet Potatoes

Just like regular potatoes, sweet potatoes can be propagated from scraps, but in a slightly different way. To start, place a sweet potato in a jar with water so that it’s partially submerged. Secure toothpicks around the middle of the potato to keep it in place. Leave the jar in a sunny spot, and in a few weeks, you’ll notice shoots and roots forming. Once the roots are well-developed, you can cut the slips (the shoots) off the sweet potato and plant them in soil.