Food is expensive. If you do the grocery shopping for your household, you know that this is one of the highest costs related to your home and family.
While it may be unlikely that you can completely eliminate your grocery bill, you can grow certain foods yourself.
And, you can grow them from scraps that you would normally throw away.
Imagine having an unlimited supply of your family’s favorite produce.
Jump to:
1. Lettuce
Lettuce, Bok Choy and cabbage are relatively easy to grow from scraps. Instead of throwing out those leftover leaves, simply place them in a bowl with just a bit of water in the bottom.
Keep the bowl somewhere that gets good sunlight and mist the leaves with water a couple of times each week.
After 3 or 4 days, you will notice roots beginning to appear along with new leaves. When this happens you can transplant your lettuce or cabbage in soil.
2. Celery
Celery is one of the easiest foods to grow from leftover scraps. Just cut off the bottom or base of your celery and lay it in a bowl with just a bit of warm water in the bottom.
Keep the bowl in direct sunlight as long as possible each day and after about a week, you will begin to see the leaves thickening and growing along the base.
When this happens, you can transplant your celery in soil and wait for it to grow to full length.
3. Lemongrass
If you love using lemongrass but have a difficult time finding it, simply regrow your own. Lemongrass will grow just like regular grass. You just place the root that is leftover in a glass bowl or jar with enough water to cover it and leave it in the sunlight.
After about a week, you will notice new growth and when this happens you can transplant your lemongrass in a pot or in your herb garden.
4. Bean Sprouts
If you love cooking with bean sprouts you can grow them yourself as well. You just need to soak a tablespoon or so of the beans that you want to grow in a jar with shallow water.
Leave this overnight and in the morning, drain the water off and put the beans back in the container. Cover the container with a towel overnight and rinse them the next morning.
Keep doing this until you notice the sprouts begin to appear and then until they reach the size that you want. This works well with mung beans and wheat berries.
5. Avocado
Avocado seeds can be used to grow a steady supply of this super food. You just have to wash the seed and use toothpicks to suspend it over water in a bowl or jar.
The water should come up enough to cover the bottom inch of the seed. Keep the container in a warm place but not in direct sunlight and remember to check the water every day and add more as needed.
It can take up to six weeks for the stem and roots to appear and once the stem reaches about 6 inches you will need to cut it down to 3 inches. When leaves begin appearing, you can plant the seed in soil, remembering to leave about half of it above ground.
6. Potatoes
Virtually everyone knows that potatoes can be grown from potato peelings. You need peelings that have eyes on them. Cut those peelings into two inch pieces, ensuring that there are at least two or three eyes on each piece.
Allow them to dry out overnight and then simply plant them about four inches deep in your soil. Make sure that the eyes are facing up when planting. It will take a few weeks before you see the potato plant begin to grow.
7. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes can be grown much like regular potatoes. You just have to cut the sweet potato in half and suspend it using toothpicks above a container of shallow water.
Roots will begin to appear in just a few days and sprouts will be seen on top of the potato around that same time.
Once those sprouts reach about four inches or so in length, just twist them off and place them in a container of water. When the roots from this container reach about an inch in length, you can plant them in soil.
8. Ginger
Ginger root is very easy to grow and once you get started, you can keep your supply of ginger full. You just need to plant a spare piece of your ginger root in potting soil, making sure that the buds are facing up.
You will notice new shoots and new roots in about a week or so and once this happens you can pull it up and use it again. Remember to save a piece of the rhizome so that you can replant it and grow more for the next time you need it.
9. Pineapple
You can grow your own pineapple even if you don’t live in the tropics. You just cut the top off and insert a few toothpicks to hold it above a container filled with water. Keep the container in direct sunlight.
If it is warm outside, sit it on the porch or deck during the day and bring it in at night. Remember to change the water every other day or so and keep the container filled so that it reaches just about the base.
You will notice roots in about a week or so and once they are formed you can transplant into potting soil. If you live in a cooler area, it is best to grow your pineapple indoors.
10. Garlic
Garlic is really easy to grow and can be done from just one clove. When you buy garlic, you get several cloves so just pull one off and plant it with the roots facing down in potting soil.
Garlic likes plenty of direct sunlight so in warmer weather, keep it outdoors in the sun during the day. Once you notice that new shoots have established, cut the shoots back and your plant will produce a bulb. You can take part of this new bulb and plant again.
11. Onions
Onions are very easy to grow indoors or out. You just have to cut the root of the onion off and make sure that you leave about a half an inch of onion when you do. Cover lightly with potting soil and keep in a sunny area.
For green onions, simply put the white base with the roots intact in a container of water and place in direct sunlight. Change the water out every few days and the green will continue to grow.
Just snip what you need and allow it to grow as long as you like.
12. Pumpkins
If you tend to carve pumpkins on Halloween, you can save those seeds and plant them. Even if you prefer toasting your seeds for a yummy snack, you can save a couple for growing new pumpkins.
Just spread the seeds out in a sunny area outdoors and cover with soil. You can also plant an entire pumpkin. Once you finish displaying that Jack-O-Lantern, just fill it with soil and plant the entire thing.
13. Mushrooms
You can grow mushrooms from cuttings, although they are a bit more difficult than many other vegetables. You will need a warm area with a lot of humidity and soil that is rich in nutrients.
It is much better to grow your mushrooms in a pot as opposed to in the ground because you have a better shot at controlling the temperature and the humidity.
You just have to cut away the head of the mushroom and plant the stalk or stem in the soil. Leave the very top exposed and this base will begin to grow a new head.
14. Peppers
You can grow a number of hot peppers from the seeds that are leftover. Just collect the seeds from your habaneros, jalapenos or any other peppers that you have on hand. Plant them in potting soil and keep in direct sunlight unless it is warm outside and then you can just plant them in your garden area.
Peppers grow relatively fast and don’t require a lot of care. Once you get a new crop, just save some of the seeds for replanting again.
15. Fennel
Growing fennel requires that you keep the roots intact. You need about an inch of the base of the fennel to get it to regrow. Just place this base in a container with about a cup of water and leave it in direct sunlight.
The windowsill is the perfect place to grow fennel. When the roots grow strong and you notice new green shoots coming up from the center of the base, you can transplant into soil.
16. Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be grown just by saving those seeds that you probably throw out anyway. You just have to rinse the seeds and allow them to dry. Plant in a good, rich potting soil until you notice growth coming in.
Allow the seeds to get a few inches high before transplanting them outdoors. During cold weather you can grow your tomatoes indoors. Just remember to keep them in an area that gets plenty of sunlight and water a few times each week.
17. Basil
Basil is relatively easy to regrow. You just have to have a stem about four inches high. Place this stem in a glass of water with the leaves well above the water line.
Leave the glass sitting in a bright area but not in direct sunlight. Roots should begin to form in a few days and when those roots reach a couple of inches long, you can transplant them in soil.
18. Cilantro
Cilantro can be grown from scraps as well. Just place the bottom of the stem in a glass of water and leave in a bright area, near a windowsill perhaps.
When the roots grow a couple of inches long, you can transplant the cilantro into a pot and you will notice new sprigs in just a few weeks.
19. Turnips
Root plants, turnips grow well from clippings or leftover scraps. You just need to salvage the tops of the turnip and place in a container of water. You should notice new green tops growing in just a few days after you begin.
Just allow the root to continue growing until it’s ready to be transplanted in the ground. This works with many root vegetables such as beets, turnips and even parsnips.
20. Cherries
You can actually grow your own cherry tree from the pit of the cherry, although it does take some time to grow an entire tree. You will need to keep the pit in cold storage for a few weeks so that they will germinate.
To do this, simply clean the pit, pack it in nutrient rich soil and store it in a lidded container in your refrigerator. Leave for about twelve weeks and then transplant outdoors.
21. Apples
You can plant seeds from those delicious apples and grow your own apple trees. These are a little difficult but they will grow although you should note that you can plant several of the seeds from a single apple and end up with different types of apple trees.
Just allow the seeds to dry out and then plant them. Note that you will need at least two apple trees in order for them to grow well so save more than one seed the next time you enjoy an apple.
22. Peaches
Peaches, nectarines and plums can all be grown from their seeds. Note that it does take a couple of years before you will be able to get any fruit from trees that you grow from seed but it will definitely be worth it if you begin now.
You just have to dry the seeds out very well to prepare them for planting and plant them in a nutrient rich soil and in an area that gets plenty of sunlight.
23. Lemons
Lemon trees can be grown from seeds and if you live in an area that gets really cold winters, you can simply grow dwarf trees indoors. Meyer lemons tend to have smaller plants so choose these if you want an indoor lemon tree.
You will begin to get lemons from your tree in just a couple of years so remember that you won’t actually get lemons the same year that you plant them.
Just be sure to clean and dry your seeds before planting and choose a soil that is rich in nutrients for the best results.
24. Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts can be grown from seeds, although they do need to be planted near another hazelnut tree in order to germinate. Just dry the nuts well and plant them in a rich soil.
You can begin your plantings indoors and then transplant outdoors during warmer weather if you want or if you live in an area that is warm year-round, just plant them whenever you are ready.
You will begin growing your own hazelnuts within just a couple of years.
25. Chestnuts
Growing chestnuts is really easy, provided you choose a type of chestnut that is indigenous to your planting zone.
Remember to dry the nuts out well before planting and note that you may have to wait a few years before your trees really begin bearing nuts. You will also need to plant more than one chestnut tree for cross pollination or you won’t get much from them.
Conclusion
Incidentally, produce is often one the most expensive items on most grocery lists so anything that you can cut down will help you to tremendously curb that grocery expense.
There are a number of fruits and vegetables that you can replant and grow yourself, ensuring that you always have these items on hand when you need them and helping you to cut down on the money that you spend on produce every week.
If you have ever considered growing your own food, this post contains a list of 25 foods that you can grow from the leftover scraps and seeds that you normally throw out.
If you're a fan of effortless gardening check out our newest perennial collection featuring hundreds of perennial flowers and vegetables.
memie
Thanks so much for sharing . I'm sure going to try this .
Jawana Cox
This is wonderful! I'm excited to try my hand at all these things.
chris
We started gardening and we were gone wrong. We could not figure out why we were not getting the beautiful vegetables we were hoping for. People suggest to spray chemicals for vegetables and fruits but it is poison and it is not organic vegetables. My lab professor referred a guide it helps me to grow my gardening as what we like,
Get the guide from here >> ( go2l.ink/gardening ) <<.
I have recommended this system to all of my friends and family. We got good organic natural vegetables and fruits in the next harvest, one of the beautiful products in the market.
Debi Green
Thank you!
eric
We have vegetables and food from the market but it is not 100% organic food, it is missed with poison liquid as you know the people spray the plants to grow the vegetables and fruits faster, Recently we saw one of the guide it explain all the method how to do organic gardening for healthy life.
Now we are using this method to get quality vegetables and fruits. All the best
Ivan
There is a mistake with the avocado. If you plant it like it's said, probably you won't have lots of avocados from that tree. There are 2 kinds of avocado trees, type A and tipe B. The fist opens its female flowers at morning and the male at afternoon. Type B do it in the contrary way. This makes very difficult the male to polinize the female.So, if you want to have a good production of avocados, you have to plant two seeds kinda close together and pray to have one being type A and the other being type B.
After that you have to wait between 3 to 5 years to have fruits. But the wait worths, because these trees could life looooong lifes and produce avocados every year (some trees are 400 years old and still are productive)
S Stack
I have been eating avacados for over 30 years. grew many avacado trees but never had even 1 avacado. So this is just an old wives tale. LOL
Sierra
Obviously your seeds were of the same "sex" and you know what they say about same sex mates not being able to multiply.
Ali
You can grow your own from seed but to make it fruit, you need to find a tree which has fruited in the past, get a branch from it and graft it onto your seedling you have grown from seed. Otherwise you won't get any fruit
Anonymous
My father has a avocado tree that didn’t bare fruit for 50 years and then he heard of you put a nail in it... it will bare fruit. So he gave it a shot and to our amazement, it happened! We’ve had avocados the last few years!
Joe Donato
Please show me how to grow zucchi squash from the cut end. Thanks, Joe
Which end is up?
K
Grows from seed
Joe Donato
I meant Zucchini !
Mary
If you want to grow zucchini buy a packet of seed - I get them at the Dollar Store about 4 packets for a dollar, they usually have between 6 - 10 seed each. If you buy an heirloom variety you can learn how to save seeds and have seeds forever and plenty to share.
Annie
Do Not buy any seeds at the dollar store. There All GMO, and there seeds will not regrow.
Buy seeds that are Organic, that can regrow.
Buy organic potatoes from the market, cut the eyes out and they will grow,same with Garlic etc..
Regular potatoes etc. have had a spray on them so they do not grow in the market, which gives the potatoes, and other foods a longer shelve life.
Spend the extra dollar and buy Organic..
heather R
Try Annie's Heirlooms for non-GMO organic choices.
http://www.anniesheirloomseeds.com
Mike
I just purchased from migardener.com. All Heirlooms non-GMO, but for $.99 per pack. Nice collection, and Luke does how to video's on Youtube, so he grows everything that they sell. Just a couple running a store out of their basement, but how cool is that!!.
Judy Kwok
Too right. Growing from plants is dodgy these days, as many are hybrids and won't grow true. The idea is to stop just this and increase seed-vendor's profits.
Paullett
NOT all dollar seeds are GMO. Where do people get these fear mongering ideas from? And Yes, I have saved seed and they did regrow very nice tasty organic grown by me. Perhaps some stores carry GMO but seriously maybe your confusing hybrids with GMO?I despise companies like Monsanto and what ever their new name they go by. Dollar seeds are more affordable to some who can't pay the five dollar a pack prices.
Erin
I agree with you that there is a lot of fear mongering around dollar store items, but in this case many of their seeds are technically GMO. GMO simply means 'genetically modified' so that can mean the simple act of hybridization of two different varieties of the same plant to make that particular seed. It isn't always a bad thing, and is done to strengthen the plant to resist certain diseases, bear more fruit, etc. However, it can cause complications if done carelessly, such as reduced resistance to certain fungi, poor taste, different antioxident levels, different Ph levels... basically it's pairing two similar species and praying that their combinded pros will negate their seperate cons. I personally don't have a problem eating them, however, as nearly all plant products we eat today are GMOs, and look nothing like they did a few hundred years ago. if you don't believe me, google image search 18th century watermelons! It's shockingly different!
stacy
Bell peppers can be grown from seeds but can be a little harder to get started. Ive found that if you cover the pot with clear plastic wrap and place a heating pad under the pot they tend to sprout much better , remember to keep the soil moist
Zada Shindelar
Peppers like to have warm roots and do well in black containers or concrete blocks.
Shirley Robinson
I tried last yr and nothing. Pine or two flowers but that's it. I'm trying it this yr again. Thinking about going store and get a plant that's stated. Sing both.
james simpson
A grafted lemon tree will typically begin to produce after 3 years and will out produce a seedling tree by 10 times or more in the first decade. In addition size controlling rootstocks on grafted trees help to keep the trees more manaegable . A Meyers lemon can purchased at Walmart for about $15. Second point,the probability that a seedling apple will be a good as either parent is about 1 in 6000. These are not great odds,the smart person would find an honest local nursery and buy a tree that is locally adapted and whose fruit you like along with a pollenizer. The same advice applies to avocado, the odds of a quality tree are even worse at about 1 in 10,000. The odds for decent stone fruit are better at about 1 in 3 for a acceptable fruit but that first fruit may take a decade to arrive . I cannot speak to the veracity of the authors other advice. But being wrong about every tree fruit is not a good start.
P. S.
I'm glad you said it... but all the other plants do do well except with the Pineapple you have to twist the top off, if you have any fruit left it will rot. Once you have the top off you have to remove a few bottom layers of leaves and you will find some small little "starter" roots a couple layers in.
Grandma Sue
James; It is just fun to watch a tiny seed develop into any kind of plant. It is also educational for children.
Metab
Ian looking how to grow mushrooms
Sheryl
How do you regrow mushrooms
annie parham
I want the price of book 25 foods you can re-grown yourself from kitchen scraps.
Grandma Sue
Why do you need a book when the directions are right here?
Anonymous
i know same
guido
Excellent tips. Tks.
Sharell brulla
I don,t see where I can print a copy of these 25youbcan regrow from scraps.n would like a print out of this.
Gerald Buck
If You know how to copy and paste, you can print out these directions. Just put in a word document and voila, there you go.
Beverly
Use your local library and copy the book!
Sharell brulla
I would like a copy of 25 foods you can re-gro. and directions. Thank you.
Sharell brulla
I would love to be able to print out these items so I can try them. Thank You. \
Sharell brulla
Would love to be able to print out directions on these items. Thanks
Monica
It’s called paper and pen
Robert
While avocados can technically be regrown, it will take an avocado tree FIVE YEARS to produced fruit. Moreover, avocado trees are huge! Unless you live in the Southwest or Florida and you have unlimited time and land, growing your own avocados is not practical at all.
Michael
The writer is taking more of a rhetorical approach as many of these items are long term large area projects, also many have little chance to produce the same quality fruit as the scraps which were harvested from. Seems the writer only wants to state the possible. Like its possible for an albino elephant to get a sunburn, where from we get pink elephants.
Crystalynn Hyatt
is there a PRINTABLE version of this???/
Michelle
Copy & paste into notes & then print.
CHristina Romero of Bakersfield california
Very cool tried it an lettuce regrew!!:)
CHristina Romero of Bakersfield california
super dope
Rawda ahmed
thanks very much
Abbey
We just started doing this with lettuce and basil from the grocery store on our own and we realized how awesomely easy it is! I will be trying more of these veggies soon for sure!! I'm going to link this post into my blog so people can see your suggestions 🙂
Connie
This is the greatest thing going - love it
That guy
IM IN DA COMMENTS SECTION 😀
Ben
I personally grow pineapple for a while now.
I thought about growing potatoes like the article suggests but it seems to me like it needs a lot of space and can be messy.
Technically growing the pineapple the way I did it is not from scraps. Well, you can say that thought. I am really more into growing fruit rather than greens. Though the latter is much faster and easier.
Growing pineapple takes time. The plant is not a fast grower and the fruit will develop slowly.
Regardless, it is a beautiful, low maintenance and clean plant. Almost no trimming or foliage occurs.
I strongly believe that if you have the place for it, you really need to grow stuff. It is fun and rewarding.
If you consider growing a pineapple, I really recommend it.
For more information: https://www.webquestions.co/questions/how-to-grow-a-pineapple
Here is a video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTpyTG7fc8U
Cheers!
Ben
Nick Jensen
I start green oinions this way . I cut the bottom off about 3/4 of an inch ,leaving the roots on , and put in a dish of water with water half way up them.
Once a green shoot ( 3-7 days ) appears I plant it in the garden, being sure to water it for the next week .
In no time I have a lot on green onions growing .
You can cut the tops off and eat them . they will grow back
NICI
Paulette,
I totally agree with you. Some of us can afford heirloom seeds perhaps other cannot. ADDITIONALLY u r Absolutely correct & Im in agreement with you when saying "NOT all dollar seeds are GMO." They are not all GMO.
People really need to be mindful when making such *matter of fact* Statement and think b4 speaking in thier reply.
The KicKer to me is that type of ignorance wil almost certainly insult,degrade & is looking down upon the only choice another person might have...
I'm No SJW believe me, I'm not an overly sensitive *I need my safe space ~crying closet & comfort blanket* type of woman. But I am however, a fair woman with Values that consist of respect all people.Until I'm given a good reason not to.. not an arrogant,rude, know-it-all..
People need to realize whatever it is you think you have this morning can all be gone by lunchtime. Then they might just be at the dollar store by seeds. Enough said.
NICI
cj
cool info 🙂
Jessica
Hi it’s a good menu and I think I would have liked it maybe you could have youse some spices in it and some sides with it as I think people would have pefered it
Debra
What about asparagus
Diane
I was surprised to see leaves growing out of my waxed rutabaga from the grocery store I had sitting on my kitchen counter.
Betsy
What if my celery is not organic?
ANONYMOUS
This is really useful during this quarantine!
Anonymous
What about growing sugar snap peas. Can I do this from store bought peas? What about beets? Can you only get leaves from a beet or can you replant and get a whole beet?
Guyu
wow
Moon
Yea
nope
If you want any of the fruit trees, it will take years before it's mature and producing fruit, especially avocado. Papaya grows WAY faster than any of the fruits listed.
Mark
Thanks
Rebecca Valerie Perera
Thank you what a great help, to grow our own food. Thank you again.
Debbyanne SOUTHWELL
Some of these ideas are really great! I actually have two apple trees starting to grow. They are only small at the moment. I save seeds and just trial them out and it is fun too to see what grows as it isn't always what you expect!