Did you know that nearly one-third of the food produced globally goes to waste? 70% waste that waste starts right in our kitchens! From unused vegetables to forgotten potatoes sprouting in the pantry, we are all partly responsible.
But what if you could turn those scraps into something useful, even delicious?
Why grow your own food?
Regrowing food from kitchen scraps isn’t just a clever trick — it’s a simple way to make a real impact. Every time you give new life to leftover stems, roots, or sprouted veggies, you’re keeping perfectly usable food out of the trash.
It’s a great way to reduce food waste, save money on groceries, and experiment with a little home-grown magic, even if you don’t have a garden. Whether you’re in an apartment with a sunny windows or have just a bit of outdoor space, regrowing your groceries is an easy and satisfying way to live a little greener — and a lot more delicious. Plus, that way you know exactly what you are consuming.
🥕 What Root Vegetables Can You Grow at Home?
🥔 Potatoes
Got a potato in your pantry that’s starting to sprout little “eyes”? Don’t toss it — plant it! Cut the potato into chunks, making sure each piece has at least one eye. Let them dry for a day or two to prevent rot, then plant them in a container or garden bed with a few inches of soil on top. In a few weeks, leafy green plants will emerge, and underground, your new potatoes will start growing! You know they are ready to harvest when the leaves start to yellow — it’s like digging for treasure!
Pro Tip: Make sure they are well spaced, and getting enough sunlight.
🥕 Carrot Tops
Just save the top inch of the carrot and let it sprout in water. Change the water every couple of days to keep it fresh. Okay, they won’t regrow full carrots — but those leafy tops make a great pesto or garnish, and it’s a pretty fun project for kids too!
🫚 Ginger
Plant a piece of fresh ginger root (with visible buds) in soil. Keep it warm and moist, and in a few weeks, shoots and roots will form. Ginger is a slow grower, but worth it if you can handle the wait!
🥬 Leafy Greens & Stalks You Can Grow From Groceries
🥬 Romaine Lettuce
Don’t toss that Lettuce base! Place the leftover root end in a shallow dish of water and set it near a window. In a few days, you’ll see new leaves sprouting from the center! You can harvest small leaves as they grow or plant in soil for a fuller regrowth.
🌱 Celery
Save the bottom of your celery bunch and sit it in water, cut side up. In about a week, you'll see new leaves emerging. Once the roots begin to form, transfer it to a pot or garden bed to keep it growing!
🪴 Spinach (a bit trickier)
Spinach doesn’t regrow from leaves, but you can try planting mature spinach roots (if you can find bunches with them still attached). Just keep the roots moist in soil and in a cool, partly shaded spot — if conditions are right, new leaves may grow and you will have your own homegrown spinach!
🌿 Herbs You Can Grow at Home
🧅 Green Onions
These are one of the easiest kitchen scraps to regrow. Just place the white ends (with roots) upright in a glass with a bit of water. Change the water every few days and keep it in sunlight — they’ll regrow green shoots in a matter of days! You can trim and use them again and again.
🌿 Basil
Take a fresh basil cutting (about 4–6 inches long) and remove the bottom leaves. Place the stem in a glass of water and set it in a warm, sunny spot. After a week or so, roots will begin to grow — once they’re a couple inches long, transplant it into soil for a full basil plant.
Here are some other ideas of things you can grow from food scraps!
🧄 Garlic
Plant a single clove (pointy side up), and it’ll grow into a whole new bulb. Just be patient — garlic takes time, but it's worth the wait.
🥑 Avocado Pits
Don’t throw out that big avocado seed! Rinse it, then suspend it over a glass of water with toothpicks so the bottom half is submerged. Place it by a sunny window and wait for roots and a stem to grow (usually within a few weeks). Once the stem reaches about 6 inches, pot it in soil and watch your avocado plant thrive! This is also a pretty fun family project if you want to start teaching your kids how to grow!
Starting a mini regrow garden is easier than you think! Try regrowing just one veggie this week and see where it leads! Comment down here and Tag us on Instagram to see your plant progress — we’d love to see what you grow. 🌱✨