Too Good To Go Blog6 PRODUCE SCRAPS YOU CAN REGROW

Want never ending fruit and veg? Did you know that you can grow brand new fruit, vegetables and herbs from the scraps in your kitchen? Regrowing these kitchen regulars is easier than you think, minimises food waste and saves you money in the process.

CARROTS

Famously a rabbit’s favourite food, growing a never ending supply of carrots is a fun project for anyone. Cut the top off of your carrot, roughly about an inch, and place in about 1cm of water. Leave your carrot top on a windowsill to bathe in sun and in a few weeks, you should see some sprouts and roots forming. From here place the carrot in a pot with some soil and within weeks your carrot should start growing.

GARLIC

Do you have dry, slightly wrinkly garlic that you forgot about? Take the cloves with the skin on, and place them upright in shallow water, submerging the base a little.

Keep your submerged bulbs on a sunny windowsill and replace the water every couple of days. Before you know it you will have shoots growing, with a fresh, light garlic flavour, perfect for pestos or garnishing your dish. Chasing after that full bulb? Plant your sprouting cloves in some soil and water regularly. Keep an eye out for the leaves to turn yellow as a way to know when to harvest - this usually takes about 9 months.

GINGER

Much like your garlic, if you notice your ginger is a little wrinkled and past its best for eating, you can regrow it. Your ginger needs to have at least one bumpy protrusion, which can be potted flat, about 1cm deep in a wide and shallow pot with soil. It takes about 8-10 months to be ready for harvest, and grows best in a humid environment with lots of sun!

HERBS

Most of the herbs you use regularly in the kitchen can be regrown from a single cutting and some water. Basil and Mint are the quickest to sprout and can be grown at any point in the year. Mint and basil are the fastest and can be regrown any time of the year. You’ll want to cut your stem just below a node (where the leaves grow from) and place it in some water in a spot with indirect sunlight. Once you notice new roots and leaves, transfer it to some soil.

LETTUCE

From romaine to iceberg, the method is very similar. Place the root of your lettuce in just enough water to submerge the base. By changing the water every few days, you will notice the base starts to sprout roots within a couple of weeks. The sprouts mean it is time to transfer your lettuce to soil, ready to grow. If you wait until the new leaves grow to be about 10 cm long, you’ll have lettuce perfect for your next salad.

SPRING ONIONS

Want a never ending supply of spring onions? This is perhaps the easiest of all produce to regrow, spring onions can be fully regrown just from the white base, in a small jar of water. No need to grab the soil for this, just keep the white base in 3cm of water, changing regularly and wait a few weeks for the fresh spring onions to be regrown.