Growing your own food is a great way to save money and reduce waste. Did you know that you can grow new vegetables and herbs from scraps that you might normally throw away? Here are some popular vegetables and herbs in the UK that you can easily grow from scraps:
Root Vegetables:
Root vegetables like carrots, turnips, and beets can be regrown from their scraps. Simply take the top of the root vegetable and place it in a shallow dish of water. Make sure the water covers the bottom of the vegetable. Place the dish in a sunny window and change the water every few days. In a few weeks, you should see roots and new leaves growing from the top of the vegetable. Once the roots are established, you can plant the vegetable in soil.
Potatoes:
Potatoes can be regrown from their sprouts. Simply cut a potato into small pieces, each with at least one sprout. Let the cut pieces dry for a day or two, then plant them in soil with the sprouts facing up. Cover the potatoes with soil and water them well. In a few weeks, you should see new potato plants sprouting up from the soil.
Celery/Leeks/Spring Onions:
These vegetables can be regrown from their base. Simply cut off the base of the vegetable, leaving about an inch of the stem. Place the base in a shallow dish of water, making sure the water covers the bottom of the vegetable. Place the dish in a sunny window and change the water every few days. In a few weeks, you should see roots and new leaves growing from the base of the vegetable. Once the roots are established, you can plant the vegetable in soil.
Herbs:
Many herbs can be regrown from their stems. Simply cut off a few inches of the stem and place it in a shallow dish of water. Place the dish in a sunny window and change the water every few days. In a few weeks, you should see roots growing from the bottom of the stem. Once the roots are established, you can plant the herb in soil.
Growing food from scraps is a simple and sustainable way to start your own garden. Not only will you save money on groceries, but you'll also reduce waste and have fresh produce at your fingertips. Give it a try and see how many new plants you can grow!
Don't forget - if you end up with surplus vegetables then get in touch with us. As part of our Growing Communities Network you can help us distribute surplus foods to local food banks & community kitchens.
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