source: Daily Hiit
It’s hard to keep kids’ attention for long projects, or even movies – but you can bet that if you have a plant that promises to change and grow over time they will be excited to hop up every morning and go check it out. The best part about these cool tricks we found on the Daily Hiit is that you can re-grow plants in the kitchen from leftovers! That’s right, no more throwing away the base of the celery, or carrot tops, instead reuse them by simply placing in water or soil with your children and they will provide you with seemingly endless free food, what a novel idea!
Instead of tossing that hard to eat bottom part of the celery away, next time keep it, and place it in a small bowl or saucer of warmish water in the sun. Once the leaves begin to sprout from the center just transfer to soil and – voila! – new celery, and also the beginning of a pretty cool vegetable garden. You can do the exact same thing with the bottom of bok choy, garlic, romaine lettuce, as well as scallions. When the roots of the scallions begin to re-grow, just transfer into your new garden.
I’ll bet you never thought to use carrot either, but you could grow your own for salads just by keeping the tops of your carrots (greens still attached, but cut short) and placing them carrot side down in a dish of water. Leave the dish on a windowsill or in a well-lit room and the carrot tops will grow back for reuse.
Have fun keeping the kids entertained with your very own miniature vegetable garden, while teaching them about the importance of sustainability and not wasting, with the added benefit of food for your family! Even if you have a black thumb, these are super simple and hardy veggies that grow in just a little bit of water. Try this out and let us know what you were able to grow in the comments!
how do you re grow garlic
You can regrow garlic sprouts by placing the cloves in a shallow bowl of water near sunlight. Change the water when it’s looking cloudy and begin harvesting when the sprouts are about 3 inches tall. Thanks for asking RJ!
Sara when you say “harvest when 3 inches long” are you referring to transplantation?
Sorry for the confusion James, great question! I was referring to trimming the sprouts for use. After they get about three inches tall, you can trim the greens (not more than a third of them so it continues to grow) and use them in your cooking.
I’ve got celery to try and grow! Gtg!!
That’s awesome Katy, let us know how it goes!
This Nana I has a fun project for my grandchildren! Thank you!
I’m sure they will love it, thank you for sharing with us Debbie!
This is awesome 🙂
Thanks Crystal, we couldn’t agree more!
How do you start to grow bean sprouts to use in salads and soups?
Simply soak your beans overnight, then drain and let them them sit out on paper towels. Everyday after rinse the beans and lay them back out until sprouts start to appear. Grow them to desired length and then use or keep in the fridge. I hope that helps Linda, let us know how it goes!
I cut off the top of a pineapple, put in water for a short time, planted it in my flower garden, and voila, the biggest, most beautiful, and sweetest pineapple grew!!
That’s amazing Dee, we love pineapple in my house, I’ll have to try that out!
Would that work with romaine lettuce?
It sure does Lou! Just keep the lettuce base in a cup of water, and enjoy when those leave start growing!
I am regrowing my organic celery and green onions! I started them in the water until they were a few inches tall then repotted them in organic dirt on my patio.
That’s amazing Robin, and glad to hear it transferred well into the dirt!
You can do the same with parsley.
I haven’t tried parsley myself, I’ll have regrow that one next. Thanks for commenting!
I’m so glad you posted this! I’ve been doing this since I WAS just a kid! GOD BLESS Y’all sweethearts and may YOU never go hungry!
Thank you for sharing Laura! I was pretty excited myself when I learned how easy it was, I hope it helps other families save some money and bond over a cool learning experience!
I put gene onions in a glass of water and I just cut the green for chives. Yummy
Yummy indeed Shelia! Why ever buy green onions or scallions again? Thanks for commenting!
My mom (who lives with us) “accidentally” discovered this when she wrapped some onion with saran wrap and left it out. Houston is of course humid enough that the wrap held in enough moisture. The onion sprouted. I planted it last week.
Well that’s pretty cool Leslie! It seems like your Mother stumbled on a great idea that will keep growing, thanks for sharing!
I just ran across your blog and have grown carrots, and radishes, but none of the other veggies. Will try celery and possibly cabbage, & lettuce(romaine)(iceberg??) thanks for the interesting, useful reading. Even older people will enjoy these planting ideas. Tom W 3rd.
Celery, cabbage, and lettuce are all excellent vegetables for regrowing Tom! I’ve read that romaine, red, and green leaf lettuce works best. Thanks for sharing, and you’re right I think people of all ages can definitely enjoy these planting ideas, it’s fun and informative!
Will this work with any kind of fruit? My kids love apples and oranges and tomatoes. Even if it takes a couple of years I’m ready to try it as per having seven children, we spend an arm and a leg to keep them eating healthy.
Great question Karla, I definitely understand wanting to save on healthy foods, thanks for asking! The fruits I’ve heard of regrowing are pineapples and lemons.
I know without fail that tomato seeds or even a whole tomato planted in a flower bed or garden will produce quite a large number of succulent fruit/vegetables.
Now, as far as orange go, you can grow a lemon or orange tree for sure but the big question is?. Will it produce fruit, probably not! I had a huge lemon tree on Maple St. In Bellaire, Texas. It was probably 12 feet tall. But never produced any fruit at all. It would probably need to be grafted to produce fruit.