16 leftover vegetable scraps to plant in your garden (And the proper way to plant it)

Here's a sustainable garden idea and how to properly plant leftover vegetable scraps in your garden.

I'm guessing you've seen videos of people re-planting parts of leftover vegetables in their garden. It's seem easy, right? But is it really possible to re-plant your vegetable scraps?

It's true that planting leftover vegetable parts can initiate regrowth, but how do you do it properly?

Planting leftover vegetable scraps is common, especially for those living a sustainable and zero-waste lifestyle. Aside from being sustainable and earth-friendly, it can save you some money for your groceries.

Learning how to regrow vegetables from kitchen scraps is a sustainable and cost-efficient way of starting your own garden even if you're short on space or experience.

In this guide, we'll talk about how to regrow vegetables like green onions, lettuce, and potatoes using simple methods.

This project not only helps reduce waste but also brings a rewarding sense of accomplishment as you watch new vegetables grow right before your eyes.

Why Regrow Vegetables from Kitchen Scraps?

If you're still not convinced why you should do it (which I doubt since you're already here), or just might be wondering what to do with your leftover vegetable scraps, let’s explore the benefits of planting leftover vegetable scraps before diving into the process.

• Minimizes food waste: Instead of tossing vegetable scraps in the trash or compost, you give them a new purpose by turning them into fresh produce.

• Saves money: You can save money on groceries by regrowing certain vegetables from scraps.

• Eco-friendly gardening: For people living a sustainable and zero-waste lifestyle, planting their own food is not new to them. Regrowing vegetables from scraps supports a zero-waste lifestyle and reduces one's carbon footprint.

• Accessible to everyone: You don’t need a large garden or expensive equipment. Most regrowth projects can start right in your kitchen. You can even do it using glass and place them on your windowsills!

What Leftover Vegetables Scraps Can You Regrow?

While Some vegetables are better suited for regrowing than others. There are handfuls of vegetables that you can regrow from scrap, for starters you can try some of the following.

Some of the easiest vegetables to grow from scraps are green onions, lettuce, and potatoes. Let’s explore how to regrow each of these vegetables step-by-step.

1. How to plant leftover vegetables: Green Onions

Green onions are one of the easiest vegetables to regrow from scraps. All you need is a small glass of water and the leftover root ends of green onions.

Supplies Needed:

• Green onion root ends (about 1-2 inches)
• Small glass or jar
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Save the root ends. After using the green tops in your cooking, leave about 1-2 inches of the white root ends intact.

2. Place in water. Put the root ends into a small glass or jar with enough water to cover the roots. Keep the tops above water.

3. Place in sunlight. Place the glass on a windowsill where it will get good sunlight.

4. Change water. Change the water every 2-3 days to prevent mold and ensure healthy growth.

5. Harvest. Within a week, you’ll see new green shoots. Once they’re about 4-6 inches long, you can snip off the tops and use them in your meals. The roots will continue to regrow, providing an ongoing supply.

2. How to plant leftover vegetables: Lettuce

Leafy greens like lettuce are also simple to regrow from leftover stems, giving you fresh leaves in just a few weeks. Aside from lettuce, you can also plant cabbage and bok choi.

Supplies Needed:

• Lettuce stem or heart (about 2 inches)
• Shallow bowl
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Save the lettuce stem. After using the leaves, keep the stem or the heart of the lettuce intact, with about 2 inches at the base.

2. Place in shallow water. Set the base in a shallow bowl or container with about half an inch of water.

3. Give it sunlight. Place the container in a sunny spot. Change the water every 2 days.

4. New growth. Within a week, you should notice new leaves sprouting from the center.

5. Transfer to soil (optional). Once the new leaves are a few inches tall, you can transfer the lettuce to a small pot of soil for better long-term growth, or continue growing it in water.

3. How to plant leftover vegetables: Potatoes

Potatoes are a bit different but just as rewarding to regrow. Instead of water, you'll need some soil to regrow these root vegetables.

Supplies Needed:

• Potato pieces with "eyes"
• Pot with soil

Instructions:

1. Save potato eyes. Cut a potato into chunks, making sure each piece has at least 1-2 "eyes" (the small sprouting points).

2. Cure the pieces. Let the pieces sit at room temperature for 1-2 days to dry out. This helps prevent rotting.

3. Plant in soil. Bury the pieces about 4 inches deep in well-draining soil, with the eyes facing upwards.

4. Water regularly. Water the soil, keeping it moist but not soaked.

5. Harvest potatoes. In a few months, new potato plants will sprout, and you’ll be able to harvest fresh potatoes from the soil once the plants flower and the foliage starts to die back.

4. How to plant leftover vegetables: Celery

Celery is a popular garnish and ingredient (especially to Pansit), it gives a distinct smell to our food and flavor. You can regrow this in water or transfer it to the soil.

Supplies Needed:

• Celery base (about 2 inches)
• Shallow bowl
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Cut the base: Save about 2 inches of the base of the celery.

2. Place in water: Put the celery base in a shallow bowl with the bottom submerged in water.

3. Find a sunny spot: Set the bowl on a windowsill or in a sunny location.

4. Change the water: Replace the water every 2 days to ensure fresh growth.

5. Wait for regrowth: After about a week, new leaves will start to grow from the center. You can transfer the celery to soil or let it continue growing in water.

5. How to plant leftover vegetables: Garlic

Garlic is a staple condiment used to sauté and add flavor to our food. Garlic can be planted indoors in a pot just make sure that it gets sunlight.

Supplies Needed:

• Garlic cloves
• Pot with soil

Instructions:

1. Choose a clove. Select a healthy garlic clove and do not peel it.

2. Plant the clove. Bury the clove about 1 inch deep in soil with the pointed end facing up.

3. Place in sunlight: Set the pot in a sunny area.

4. Water regularly: Keep the soil moist but avoid overwatering.

5. Harvest: Over time, the garlic will sprout, and a new bulb will form. It takes several months for garlic to mature.

6. How to plant leftover vegetables: Carrots (Tops)

Supplies Needed:

• Carrot tops (about 1 inch)
• Shallow dish
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Cut the top: Save the top inch of the carrot.

2. Place in water: Set the carrot tops in a shallow dish of water with the cut side down.

3. Position in sunlight: Place the dish in a sunny spot.

4. Change the water: Replace the water every 2 days to prevent mold.

5. Harvest the greens: New leafy greens will grow from the top within a week. You can use them in salads or as garnish.

7. How to plant leftover vegetables: Leeks

Supplies Needed:

• Leek base (about 2 inches)
• Small glass or jar
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Cut the base: After using the green parts of the leek, save the bottom 2 inches.

2. Place in water: Put the leek base in a small glass with the roots submerged in water.

3. Find a sunny spot: Set the glass in a sunny location, like a windowsill.

4. Change the water: Change the water every 2-3 days.

5. Wait for regrowth: In about a week, new green tops will begin to grow, and you can harvest them when they reach 4-6 inches.

8. How to plant leftover vegetables: Ginger

Supplies Needed:

• Fresh ginger root
• Pot with soil

Instructions:

1. Choose a fresh piece: Select a piece of ginger with at least one visible bud or eye.

2. Plant the ginger: Bury the ginger piece 1-2 inches deep in soil with the bud facing upward.

3. Place in indirect sunlight: Set the pot in a spot that gets indirect sunlight.

4. Water lightly: Keep the soil slightly moist, but don’t overwater.

5. New growth: After a few weeks, new shoots and roots will start to form.

9. How to plant leftover vegetables: Sweet Potato

Supplies Needed:

• Sweet potato
• Toothpicks
• Glass of water

Instructions:

1. Cut the sweet potato: Cut the sweet potato in half.

2. Suspend in water: Insert toothpicks around the middle of the sweet potato half and suspend it in a glass of water, with the cut side submerged.

3. Place in sunlight: Place the glass in a sunny spot.

4. Change water: Replace the water every few days.

5. Wait for slips: After several weeks, shoots (called slips) will sprout from the top. Once they’re a few inches long, you can plant them in soil to grow new sweet potatoes.

10. How to plant leftover vegetables: Bok Choy

Supplies Needed:

• Bok choy base (about 2 inches)
• Shallow dish
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Cut the base: After using the bok choy leaves, save the bottom 2 inches of the base.

2. Place in water: Put the base in a shallow dish of water, with the cut side facing upward.

3. Find a sunny spot: Place the dish in a sunny location, like a windowsill.

4. Change the water: Replace the water every 2 days to keep it fresh.

5. Watch for regrowth: After a few days, new leaves will start growing from the center of the base.

6. Transfer to soil (optional): Once the new growth is visible, you can transfer the bok choy to soil for continued growth.

11. How to plant leftover vegetables: Fennel

Supplies Needed:

• Fennel base (bulb bottom)
• Shallow dish
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Save the bulb base: After using the top leaves, save the bottom part of the fennel bulb.

2. Place in water: Put the base in a shallow dish with enough water to cover the roots.

3. Place in sunlight: Set the dish in a sunny location, like a windowsill.

4. Change the water: Refresh the water every 2-3 days to prevent mold.

5. New growth: New shoots will begin to grow from the center in about a week. You can transfer the plant to soil for larger growth once the shoots are a few inches tall.

12. How to plant leftover vegetables: Peppers (Bell or Hot)

Supplies Needed:

• Seeds from a fresh pepper
• Pot with soil

Instructions:

1. Collect the seeds: After cutting open a fresh pepper, save the seeds.

2. Dry the seeds: Let the seeds dry out for a few days.

3. Plant the seeds: Plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep in a pot of well-draining soil.

4. Place in sunlight: Set the pot in a sunny spot, like a windowsill.

5. Water regularly: Keep the soil moist but not overly wet.

6. Watch for seedlings: After 2-3 weeks, you should see seedlings start to sprout. Once they’re established, you can transfer them to a larger pot or garden.

13. How to plant leftover vegetables: Cabbage

Supplies Needed:

• Cabbage stem (about 2 inches)
• Shallow dish
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Cut the base: After using the cabbage leaves, save the bottom 2 inches of the cabbage stem.

2. Place in water: Set the stem in a shallow dish with about 1/2 inch of water.

3. Find a sunny spot: Put the dish in a sunny area.

4. Change the water: Refresh the water every 2-3 days to keep it clean.

5. Watch for new leaves: New leaves will begin to sprout from the center after a few days. You can continue growing in water or transfer to soil for long-term growth.

14. How to plant leftover vegetables: Kale

Supplies Needed:

• Kale stem (about 2 inches)
• Shallow dish
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Save the stem: After using the kale leaves, keep the bottom part of the stem intact.

2. Place in water: Put the stem in a shallow dish with enough water to cover the base.

3. Place in sunlight: Set the dish in a sunny location.

4. Change the water: Replace the water every 2-3 days.

5. Watch for regrowth: New leaves will begin to grow from the center after about a week. You can continue growing in water or transfer to soil for longer-lasting growth.

15. How to plant leftover vegetables: Radishes (Tops)

Supplies Needed:

• Radish tops (about 1 inch)
• Shallow dish
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Cut the tops: After using the radish root, save the top 1 inch of the radish.

2. Place in water: Put the radish tops in a shallow dish of water, with the cut side down.

3. Place in sunlight: Set the dish in a sunny spot.

4. Change the water: Refresh the water every 2-3 days.

5. New growth: You won’t regrow radish roots, but the tops will sprout new edible greens that can be used in salads or as garnishes.

16. How to plant leftover vegetables: Turnips

Supplies Needed:

• Turnip tops (about 1 inch)
• Shallow dish
• Fresh water

Instructions:

1. Cut the top: Save the top 1-2 inches of the turnip.

2. Place in water: Set the turnip top in a shallow dish of water, cut side down.

3. Place in sunlight: Keep the dish in a sunny spot.

4. Change the water: Replace the water every 2-3 days to prevent rotting.

5. New growth: In a few days, new leaves will begin to sprout from the top. You can use these greens in cooking or let the plant continue growing for a larger harvest.

Additional Tips for Regrowing Vegetables

• In planting leftover vegetable scraps, you have to make sure that you use fresh and healthy scraps. Make sure that it's not rotting, and wash it to make sure no insects or worms are in there to prevent molds and other microorganisms from developing. This can get you the best results possible.

• Not all vegetables will regrow at the same pace, so you have to be patient. Be patient and give your plants time to grow. Some signs of growth might happen later than expected due to weather changes and temperature so don't give up just yet if you haven't seen any progress.

• For starters, just plant leftover vegetable scraps using vegetables that are easy to care for. After that, experiment with other veggies. After mastering green onions, lettuce, and potatoes, try regrowing other vegetables like garlic, celery, and carrots.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I regrow vegetables in water indefinitely?

While some vegetables like green onions and lettuce can regrow in water for a while, they typically grow stronger and healthier if eventually transferred to soil.

2. How long does it take for vegetables to regrow from scraps?

The time varies depending on the vegetable. Green onions can regrow in about a week, lettuce may take 1-2 weeks, and potatoes can take a few months to fully grow.

3. Can I regrow vegetables indoors?

Yes! Many vegetables can be regrown indoors as long as they receive enough sunlight. A sunny windowsill is perfect for starting many regrowth projects.

4. What should I do if my vegetables don’t regrow?

If you’re not seeing any growth, check the light, water, and temperature conditions. Be sure you’re using fresh scraps and giving your plants enough care.

Regrowing vegetables is not for everyone. But it is a rewarding way to practice sustainable gardening. Whether you're looking to cut down on food waste, save a bit of money, or just enjoy the fun of growing your own food, you just have to try it for yourself and see if it's for you.

With just a little water, sunlight, and time, you can turn your kitchen scraps into a thriving mini-garden.