During our annual Super Bowl party, my friend Meagan teased me about the green onions I was growing in my houseplant. What can I say, I love having fresh green onions to garnish my food!
I wish I could remember how I learned this trick of re-rooting green onions, but it got me to thinking that there are probably a lot of vegetables that you can re-grow from scraps. So I've started an experiment trying to grow my own garden in a sustainable way, using nothing but kitchen scraps.
First you need a place to plant the cuttings/seeds:
- Save egg shells for mini-pots for seedlings.
- Spoon potting soil into each cup and water to moisten. Make a tiny indent in the center of the soil with the end of the spoon to make room for seeds/cuttings. then sprinkle a bit of dirt to cover
- Place in a sunny window until they sprout.
- plant oudoors (egg shell and all) when danger of frost has gone.
Watch this video to see 9 other ways you can create planters repurposing household items
Try these vegetables:
- green onions: trim off roots, and soak in a shot glass of water until a tiny green sprout emerges. then pop in a houseplant or patio planter
- Lettuce & Celery: trim off the ends of the roots and place in a small ramekin of water till it sprouts/takes root, then plant in soil
- Tomatoes & melons: scoop out seeds and rinse off most of the pulp. let dry before planting
- bell peppers: save the stems and let seeds dry out before planting
- carrot tops: soak in water till sprouts show, then plant in soil
- onions & garlic: place root-side down in shallow ramekin of water
- ginger root and potato: cut out the 'eye' and plant in soil.
Want some low-budget container to plant a garden - check out our tutorial on how to make a planter box out of a wooden wine crate.