Don’t toss those veggie scraps just yet — many can be regrown into fresh produce with minimal effort. All you need is a little water, sunlight, and time to start growing your own food right from the kitchen.
From green onions to leafy lettuce, these easy regrow options are perfect for windowsills or small garden spaces. It’s a smart, low-waste way to enjoy fresh ingredients again and again.
Green Onions
Green onions are one of the easiest vegetables to regrow from scraps. Just place the white root ends in a glass of water and set it on a sunny windowsill. In a few days, you’ll see fresh green shoots ready for harvest.
Lettuce
You can regrow romaine and other leaf lettuces from the base. Place the leftover stem in a shallow dish of water and new leaves will sprout in about a week. Once roots form, transplant into soil for continued growth.
Celery
Celery can be regrown from its base by placing it in water with the cut side facing up. Within days, new stalks and leaves will begin to grow from the center. After a week or two, move it to a pot or garden bed for full regrowth.
Carrot Tops
While you can’t regrow full carrots, the leafy tops can be grown for garnish or pesto. Place the tops in a shallow dish with water and they’ll sprout bright green leaves. These are great in soups or as edible decorations.
Garlic
Garlic cloves can be planted in soil to grow fresh new bulbs. Just bury a clove root-side down and keep the soil moist. Shoots will emerge quickly and develop into full garlic heads over several months.
Potatoes
If your potatoes have sprouted “eyes,” you can cut them into chunks and plant them. Each piece with an eye will grow into a new potato plant. Give them plenty of sun and loose soil for the best harvest.
Sweet Potatoes
Regrow sweet potatoes by suspending a half in water with toothpicks and letting slips sprout from the top. Once the slips grow a few inches, remove and root them in water or soil. They’ll grow into full plants ready to produce new tubers.
Leeks
Leeks regrow much like green onions — place the root ends in water and set them in a sunny window. In just a few days, you’ll see fresh green growth. Transplant to soil for larger yields.
Bok Choy
Place the base of bok choy in a shallow dish of water to regrow new leaves. It sprouts quickly and can be transferred to soil after a week or so. The regrown leaves are tender and perfect for stir-fries and soups.
Fennel
You can regrow fennel from the white bulb base. Keep it in a dish of water until roots and new fronds appear. Once established, it can be planted in soil and harvested for both its bulb and flavorful fronds.
Onions
Cut the root end off an onion and place it in soil with the roots down and the cut side up. New shoots will grow, eventually forming a whole new onion. This method works best with yellow or white onions.
Peppers
Save seeds from your bell or chili peppers, dry them, and plant them in soil. With the right warmth and sunlight, they’ll sprout into new pepper plants. It's an easy way to regrow spicy or sweet varieties.
Basil (Bonus Herb)
While not a vegetable, basil is worth including! Place basil cuttings in water until roots appear, then plant them in soil. It’s a fast, flavorful way to regrow this kitchen favorite.
Regrowing veggies from scraps is a simple, sustainable way to make the most of your groceries. With a little care, you can turn leftovers into fresh harvests—right from your kitchen!
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