Leftover vegetables belong in the trash? Don't! Because most of them can grow back. This trend is called regrowing and is super easy to implement.
Regrowing knows how to inspire more and more people. After all, it's fun to see new life sprout from waste. It also protects our resources and, of course, our wallets. Furthermore, you save yourself a few steps when growing many types of vegetables. So why not try regrowing yourself? This is really very simple and therefore even something for people with little gardening experience.
What is Regrowing?
The term "regrowing" comes from the English language and means "let it grow back". So vegetable waste does not end up in the garbage, but is made to sprout again and thus more or less recycled.
Hobby gardeners are familiar with the principle. They practice it year after year when cutting and forcing cuttings. Regrowing is also used when a new plant sprout from an avocado seed. However, regrowing does not work for all plants. However, some "new breeds" will also succeed without problems for people without a green thumb. Still other plant recycling requires patience and finesse.
How does regrowing work?
To practice regrowing, fresh vegetable scraps are needed. These should have a root base. An exception are carrots. Here the upper part with the leaf base is used. The fresh vegetable trimmings are placed in jars or bowls and watered. In a bright and warm location, the first new green and many roots will soon appear. Once this is done, the grown vegetables are only planted in potting soil.
Which vegetables can grow back?
You can easily try regrowing on numerous plants. With a whole range of vegetable waste, success will not be lacking. Regrowing is therefore also extremely popular with people who have had little gardening experience or as a simple way to introduce children to gardening. For example, vegetables like:
can grow back- Carrots
- Celery
- Fennel
- Leek
- Salad
- Garlic
- Onions
But you can also grow mushrooms and even a pineapple from the leftovers with a little patience and finesse.
Find the right location
The location requirements of the plants are different. Therefore, the ideal location cannot be generalized. However, some basic things can be mentioned. When growing plants, for example, sufficient light is the most important requirement. Root growth is accelerated in a light location. Regrowing is therefore the ideal cultivation method for the windowsill. There the leftover vegetables are not only bright, but also warm. But the heat requirements are also individual. However, most plants thrive at room temperature.
Regrowing - step by step instructions
- Cut off the ends of the vegetables generously (about 4 to 5 centimetres).
- Place stem upright in glasses or bowls.
- Fill containers with water so that only the roots are covered with water.
- Now wait about two weeks. Change the water regularly.
- Once enough roots have formed, plant the vegetables in potting soil.
Regrowing for beginners: easy vegetables to get started
❍ Carrots:
Carrots are very good for getting into the new hobby of regrowing. Bunched carrots with a lot of crunchy green serve as the starting material. Cut the carrot about an inch below the top stalk. Then place the mixture in a shallow bowl and moisten with water as described. After just a few days, new carrot greens will grow back. This can refine salads, serve as a decoration for soups or be used in smoothies.
❍ Celery:
It takes just five days for celery to grow back. The herb can be used in stews or mushroom dishes. Celery can also be planted in soil to continue growing.
❍ Lettuce:
You can simply pull fresh lettuce out of an end piece about three centimeters long. You can harvest fresh lettuce after just a few days.
❍ Garlic:
For the regrowing of garlic bulbs are used, which already show small sprouts. Press these into a plant pot with potting soil until they are at least three centimeters covered with soil. Then place the plant pot on the windowsill and regularlyto water. That's it.
The garlic sprouts can be used to refine salads or soups and also taste good directly on bread. The sprouts are better tolerated and less spicy than the tubers.
❍ Mushrooms:
You don't necessarily need to go for a walk in the woods to harvest fresh mushrooms. You can also simply use the stalks of edible mushrooms to harvest new ones. Place the mushroom stalks in potting soil. Just don't cover the top with soil. It then only takes a few days for the mushrooms to be harvested. Did you know that growing mushrooms such as button mushrooms is so easy?
By the way, temperatures around 20 degrees are ideal for cultivation. Most mushrooms also prefer high humidity. The mushrooms should also get enough light. The only exception is mushrooms. These are content with a semi-shady to shady location.
Advanced regrowing: the pineapple
Anyone who has already gained some experience with regrowing will be looking for new challenges. You can find this in the pineapple. Regrowth of the exotic plant is not as easy as just described. Nevertheless, it is possible to grow a new plant from a pineapple trunk. The stalk is carefully twisted out of the fruit and placed in a bowl filled with water as described. When the first root sections appear, the stalk is placed in a pot with potting soil. A bright and warm location is required for further cultivation.
Now it's time to bring patience. If you look after the plant meticulously, you will be rewarded after about three years. Then a mini pineapple grows out of the middle of the stalk. Even if that doesn't happen, you can still consider regrowing a success, because an attractive houseplant has emerged from what appears to be waste.
Tip:
A winter garden corresponds best to the natural growing conditions.
You should consider this when regrowing
1.
Fresh and crisp plant parts are needed for regrowing. The vegetable trimmings should be regrowed immediately after processing and must not be wilted.
2.
To prevent the parts of the plant from rotting, it is important that you change the water in the seed tray every two days.
3.
The freshly grown green can then be harvested. The vegetables used as starting material have mostly become mushy andnot suitable for further processing.
Interesting video with instructions and tips about regrowing
By loading the video, you accept YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Load video
Always Unblock YouTube