Don't Throw Away Vegetable Scraps: 5 Types You Can Regrow at Home

The usual routine: chop the veggies, use them in cooking, and toss the scraps in the trash — not realizing they could still be useful. We've done our research and found out which foods you can regrow from scraps without needing a garden. You'll save money and learn some cool zero waste hacks.

1. Green Onions 🌱

Regrowing green onions is super easy, and they'll thrive right on your windowsill. Cut the bottom part of the onion (size doesn't matter, roots are key) and place it in a dish of water in a sunny spot. Change the water regularly — ideally every two days to prevent bacteria buildup and unpleasant smells.

Alternatively, use a pot with fertile soil enriched with compost. Growing in a pot reduces the hassle of changing water. Green onions grow quite fast — you'll notice new green parts sprouting in just a few days.

Let your onions grow repeatedly this way until the green leaves lose their flavor.

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2. Carrots – Carrot Tops 🌱

Carrots aren't going to sprout new roots, but you can grow carrot tops, which are great for chimichurri sauce, pesto, salads, or spreads. Plus, they're super rich in vitamin C.

Pour a little water into a shallow dish or plate — not too much. Cut the green tops off the carrots and place them in the dish (greens facing up) and watch your tops grow beautifully.

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3. Celery 🌱

You can even regrow celery and its tasty tops right at home. Use the bottom part of celery where the stalks connect. Cut it around 5 centimeters from the bottom and place it in a dish with water, so only the bottom is submerged. Keep it in a sunny spot.

Replace the water regularly to keep it fresh. Green tops will begin to grow, which are very versatile in recipes and rich in vitamin C and potassium.

You'll also notice new roots at the bottom — that's a sign it's time to move your celery to a pot with soil. The soil should be loose, fertile, and have a pH of 5.8–7.0. Over time, you'll see new celery stalks growing.

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4. Beets – Beet Leaves 🌱

You can also regrow beets — specifically their leaves, which are an excellent source of iron, vitamin K, B6, magnesium, and potassium. Beet leaves can be used in sauces, pastas, smoothies, soups, or just sautéed in olive oil with spices.

Cut off the top part of the beet with the stems (at least 1.5 centimeters thick), place the cut side down in a dish of water, and leave it in a sunny spot. Remember to change the water every 2–3 days. Leaves can be harvested when they're at least 5 centimeters, young leaves are more tender. Leave a few leaves so they can keep growing.

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5. Potatoes 🌱

It might sound wild, but you can grow potatoes even in an apartment. So, if you see your potatoes sprouting, don't toss them. Cut the pieces with sprouted eyes and set them aside (each piece should have one eye).

You'll need a grow bag or a pot with at least 18 liters of capacity. Fill it with a mixture of compost, peat, and soil. The mix should allow good drainage. Place the cut pieces in the pot with eyes facing up, and cover them with the remaining mix so they don't stick out.

Place the container outside on a balcony or terrace that gets six to eight hours of sunlight daily. Check that the soil is moist at least once a day. If it's dry, it's time to water, and wait for the water to drain out from the bottom. If it's very hot or windy outside, you may need to water more often.

Every two weeks, while your potatoes are growing, use a diluted liquid fertilizer, like fish emulsion. Potatoes grown in containers need lots of water, which leaches nutrients from the soil.

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When you see the plants sprouting, wait until they reach at least 15 centimeters. Then add more soil around them — the goal is to bury about one-third of the plant and cover the lower leaves. Repeat the process a few more times until the soil reaches the top of the container.

You can harvest the potatoes after the flowers bloom. Gently reach into the soil in the container and pull out your new potatoes.