My neighbor is an amazing master gardener. She is always telling me about the specialty seeds she orders and she spends hours outside growing fruits and veggies. She also grows way more than her family can eat and is always giving away some of her crops. Which is awesome for me, because I think every plant dies a little when I walk past it. As much as I try, I can not keep any plant alive.
Last fall I was over at her house getting some veggies and she started getting me big bunches of basil too. She said just to stick some of the basil in water and it will grow. I laughed because I thought for sure I would kill it all off. To my surprise, I have kept the basil alive for over 6 months. I guess I have a knack for growing things in the water.
Since then I have had luck regrowing things in the water. I love regrowing things because if I mess it up and it dies off I don't really feel like I have wasted anything. If you want to stretch your produce check out these 8 kitchen scraps you can regrow in water.
Basil
My neighbor was right, it really is so easy to grow basil in water. Select stems that are around 5 to 6 inches long and place them in fresh water near lots of sunlight. Just refill the water when it starts to get low.
Celery
Put the leftover base stalk of celery in a very shallow dish of water. Change the water daily and within about 5-6 days you should start to see a good amount of regrowth.
Green Onions
It amazes me how quickly green onions start to regrow in water. Within the first day, I was able to see new growth on them. I just place the green onion roots in a glass jar and fill with enough water to cover the roots. You should have more green onions in a week.
Romaine Lettuce
Take the heart of the lettuce and place in a jar or bowl with water covering about 1/2 inch. Place in sunlight and change or refill water as needed. You will have new lettuce growing within a few days.
Bok Choy
Bok Choy regrows just like the celery. Place in a very shallow dish and add a little water. Change the water daily and you should start to see some growth within the first day or two.
Cabbage
Cabbage will grow just like the romaine lettuce. You will need to take the heart of the cabbage and place in a bowl with water covering about 1/2 inch. Make sure the cabbage gets plenty of sunlight and refill the water as needed.
Lemongrass
Just put your lemongrass roots in a glass jar with water covering the roots. Make sure it has plenty of sun and the lemongrass will start growing within a few days.
Leeks
I don't use leeks that often in cooking, but occasionally I need a little bit for soup. Now I can just regrow my own in water. Leeks grow very similar to green onions in water. Just place them root side down in a clear glass jar and add a little water to cover the roots. Within a day you should start to see some growth.
Stop throwing out those kitchen scraps and save them to regrow more produce and herbs. Have you had any luck growing other things in water?
Charlene says
How long do you have to wait before eating the new growth?
Julie says
It depends on the different plants. The green onions have enough growth to eat within a couple of days. As soon as you feel like the plants have enough growth worth cutting off you can cut and eat.
Lucie says
Hi, Julie!
I had no idea that you could do this with so many different plants. Thanks for the tip! Love your blog.
Julie says
Your welcome!
Erin @Nourishing My Scholar says
Wow! I didn't know you could grow basil or lemon grass in water! Great info! Thanks!
Anne @ The Fitly Spoken Word says
I've done the lettuce and celery but none of the others. will have to try the basil!
Julie says
Yes! Give it a try, the basil grows so easy in water.