Did you know that you can regrow fruits and vegetables from the parts of the plants that you discard? Here are some ways that you can try regrowing new fruits and vegetables at home at any time of the year!
Lettuce and celery.
Use the bottom portion of the lettuce or celery that is cut off.
- Pour water in the baking or tray.
- Place the lettuce on the tray, with the bottom facing down. (A small dish with water in the bottom can also be used for lettuce and celery.)
- Make sure there is always water in the bottom of the tray or dish.
- Place it in a sunny window.
- When the lettuce leaves are about 2-3 inches long, use clean scissors to cut them near the base, wash and eat. Lettuce leaves can be harvested multiple times.
- Place the celery stump, with the flat side down, in the tray with water.
- As the celery stalks grow, they can be cut and eaten. More will continue to grow.
Carrots and radishes
Use the tops of the carrots or radishes for regrowing these vegetables.
- Place the radish and carrot tops on the tray, with the flat side facing down.
- Keep in a sunny window and replace the water about every 2 -3 days.
- Don’t let them dry out!
- New leaves will grow and you can cut them to taste. The radish leaves may surprise you!!
Peppers and tomatoes
Save the seeds from these two foods to grow your own!
Mist the paper towel with the tomato seeds and the paper towel with the
pepper seeds until they are evenly moist.
- Place one paper towel with seeds in each of the quart storage bags.
- Put in a warm place and watch to see what happens.
- When seeds start to sprout, add potting mix to each of the recycled milk jugs and place the seeds on top. Gently sprinkle a light layer of potting mix over the seedlings and mist the soil with water.
- Mist daily and place in a sunny window.
- When seedlings are about 2-3 inches tall, gently remove the strongest looking seedlings and plant 1 -2 seedlings in a larger container with potting mix.
- Keep watered and when there is no threat of frost, move the seedlings out for a couple of hours each day for about a week, before setting them out to stay.
- Water and monitor regularly.
Your child will have a great time watching their own fruits and vegetables grow!
