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How to Regrow Food from Kitchen Scraps: A Comprehensive Guide

Turn common kitchen scraps into new food plants with these science-backed regrowing techniques for a more sustainable kitchen.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

Turn common kitchen scraps into new food plants with these science-backed regrowing techniques for a more sustainable kitchen.

Regrowing food from kitchen scraps is a practical, rewarding, and sustainable way to reduce food waste and cultivate fresh produce right on your windowsill. This guide covers the essential vegetables, fruits, and herbs you can regrow from scraps, shares step-by-step techniques, troubleshooting tips, and answers to common questions about the process.

Why Regrow Food from Scraps?

Each year, millions of pounds of edible produce end up in landfills due to kitchen waste. By learning to regrow food from scraps, you can:

Reduce food waste by making the most of what you buy.
Save money by growing some of your own produce at home.
Teach children about plant cycles and sustainability.
Enjoy fresh herbs and vegetables year-round.

Vegetables You Can Easily Regrow from Scraps

While many kitchen scraps can be composted, some are surprisingly easy to regrow for fresh food. Here are some of the top picks:

Green Onions (Scallions)

Cut about 2-3 inches from the root end of your green onions.
Place the roots upright in a glass or small jar with enough water to cover the roots, but not submerge the tops.
Set the jar on a sunny windowsill. Change the water every 1-2 days.
Watch as new green shoots appear in a few days. Once 4-6 inches tall, you can harvest the greens and regrow repeatedly.

Celery

Cut the base (about 2 inches) from a celery stalk.
Place the base in a shallow bowl, cut side up, with just enough water to cover the bottom.
Keep in a sunny location, changing water every 2 days.
Leaves and small stalks will regrow from the center in about a week. Transfer to a pot of soil to continue growth.

Romaine Lettuce

Save the base of a romaine heart (about 2 inches wide).
Place the base cut side down in a shallow dish of water.
Keep on a sunny windowsill and change the water every two days.
New leaves will sprout from the center in several days. Once established, plant in soil.

Potatoes

Cut a potato into sections, each with at least one “eye.”
Let the pieces dry for 1-3 days to form a protective skin.
Plant cut-side down, eye up, in soil after the risk of frost has passed.
Harvest new potatoes after the plants flower and start to yellow.

Leeks

Trim the root end, leaving about 2-3 inches.
Place root end in a jar of water and set it in the sun.
Leaves will regrow in one to two weeks. Transfer to soil for optimal results.

Garlic

Use a single, healthy garlic clove with the papery skin intact.
Plant the clove pointed-side up in soil, about 2 inches deep.
Keep in a sunny area and water weekly. New green shoots (garlic greens) and bulbs will grow over several months.

Onion

Cut off the root end of an onion, leaving about 1 inch of the onion attached.
Place in shallow water until roots develop, then transfer to soil.
Green onion tops will regrow, and eventually, a new onion bulb will form over time.

How to Regrow Leafy Vegetables from Scraps

Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, bok choy, and spring onions can be regrown using similar water methods:

Use about 2-3 inches of the base.
Place base in a shallow container with half an inch of water, ensuring the leaves themselves remain dry.
Set in a bright area and change water every two days.
Once roots and new leaves appear, transfer to potting soil for continued growth.

How to Regrow Root Crops from Scraps

Some root vegetables will only regrow their edible greens, but these are delicious and nutritious additions to your meals.

Carrot Tops

Save the top inch of a carrot (with any remaining greens if possible).
Place cut side down in a shallow dish of water on a sunny windowsill.
After several days, new leafy greens will sprout from the center. Change the water routinely.
Carrot greens can be harvested for salads or pesto.

Beet Greens

Cut off the top inch of a beetroot.
Place in a bowl with shallow water, cut side down.
Leaves will regrow from the top. Transplant to soil for longer harvests.

Other Vegetables You Can Regrow

Bok Choy: Grow in water, then transfer to soil.
Fennel: Place the base in water; new shoots will appear.
Sweet Potatoes: Suspend half a sweet potato in water using toothpicks; slips (shoots) will form and can be planted.

Fruits and Herbs You Can Regrow from Scraps

While most regrowing efforts focus on vegetables, some fruits and herbs can also be started from kitchen scraps.

Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Mint)

Trim a 3-4 inch piece from healthy stems, just below a leaf node.
Remove lower leaves and place the stems in a jar of water on a sunny sill.
Roots will form in 1-2 weeks. Transfer to pots with soil for continued growth.

Pineapple

Twist or cut off the spiky crown (top) of the fruit and remove the lower leaves.
Let sit for 1-2 days to dry.
Place the base in water until roots form, then plant in soil. Grows slowly; may take years to fruit, but becomes an attractive houseplant.

Avocado

Wash and dry the pit.
Insert toothpicks around the pit’s equator and balance it over a glass so that only the lower inch is submerged in water.
Keep warm and change water weekly.—roots and stems will appear in 4-8 weeks.
Transplant to potting soil. Growing an edible avocado takes years, but the plant itself is decorative.

Lemongrass

Place the root base in water, leave in a sunny window, and change water every 2 days.
Once new roots and fresh green shoots appear, transplant to soil.

Citrus (Lemon, Orange, Lime) Seeds

Wash seeds thoroughly and remove any clinging fruit.
Plant directly in moist potting mix, about an inch deep.
Keep soil consistently moist in a warm area until germination.
Seedlings may grow into attractive indoor plants, though fruiting is unlikely outside of warm climates.

Tips for Success When Regrowing Food from Scraps

Use fresh, disease-free scraps. Older or moldy pieces may not regrow well.
Monitor moisture: Never let scraps sit in murky water for too long; change regularly.
Give plants plenty of light. Most regrowing vegetables need bright, indirect sunlight.
Transition to soil when roots and shoots are established for sustained growth.
Patience is key. Some plants regrow quickly, while others take weeks or months.

Common Problems and Troubleshooting

Scrap goes slimy: Water isn’t changed often enough. Rinse the scrap and refresh the water.
No growth: The scrap may have been too old or not enough light. Try fresher material and a sunnier location.
Mold appears: Use a clean container and move the plant to better-ventilated area.

Plants That Don’t Regrow Well from Scraps

Not all vegetables lend themselves to regrowing from scraps. Carrots, beets, and radishes will grow greens only, not new roots. Tomatoes and peppers can be grown from seeds, but only with fresh, untreated seeds from store-bought produce. Most fruit seeds (apples, pears) are difficult or unreliable due to hybridization or refrigeration.

Regrowing Food with Children: An Educational Opportunity

Regrowing food scraps is a hands-on way to introduce science concepts to children. Try:

Measuring growth over time and graphing the results.
Observing the development of roots, stems, and leaves.
Encouraging journal entries and drawings of plant progress.
Creating experiments with different scraps under varying light and water conditions.

Comparison Table: Which Scraps Regrow What?

Produce	Part Used	Regrows Greens?	Regrows Edible Roots/Fruit?
Romaine/Celery	Base	Yes	No
Green Onion/Leek	Root End	Yes	Partial (onion bulbs eventually)
Potato	Chunks with Eyes	N/A	Yes
Carrot/Beet	Top	Yes	No
Herbs	Stem Cuttings	Yes	N/A
Pineapple	Crown	Yes	Years to fruit, very slow
Avocado	Pit	N/A	Plant only (fruiting rare at home)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can you regrow vegetables from every grocery store scrap?

A: Not all scraps will regrow. Greens, onions, and tubers are easiest. Some seeds are treated or from hybrids and may not grow true.

Q: How long does it take to regrow new edible food?

A: Sprouts or greens may appear in one week. Full-sized produce often takes months and may not match store-bought size.

Q: Are vegetables from regrown scraps safe to eat?

A: Yes, as long as you use healthy scraps and provide water and soil that are free from contaminants. Wash thoroughly before eating.

Q: Can you keep regrowing the same vegetable from the same scrap multiple times?

A: Some, like green onions, can be continually harvested. Others, like celery, may only regrow once or twice before quality declines.

Q: Should you use organic produce for regrowing?

A: Organic produce is less likely to be treated with growth inhibitors and may offer better results for regrowing.

Takeaway: A Greener, More Abundant Kitchen

Learning how to regrow food from kitchen scraps is a small but meaningful step toward a more sustainable, cost-effective kitchen. Whether you’re looking to harvest a handful of fresh greens or simply want to introduce children to plant biology, these easy projects keep food out of the landfill and let you enjoy the rewarding experience of growing your own food.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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