You don’t need a sprawling backyard or fancy greenhouse to grow food. You don’t even need seeds.
As someone who lives in a small apartment, I started my gardening journey by regrowing green onions in a glass of water. Before I knew it, I had a kitchen windowsill full of leafy greens, herbs, and root veggies—all started from scraps I nearly threw away.
This blog will guide you through 12 vegetables you can grow from scraps, using nothing more than a bit of water, sunlight, and kitchen leftovers. Let’s turn waste into wonder!
12 Vegetables You Can Grow From Scraps
These are the easiest, most rewarding vegetables you can regrow at home—even if you’ve never planted a thing in your life.
1. Green Onions
Hands down, one of the easiest. Snip the green tops for cooking and place the white root ends in a cup of water.
Fun Fact: Green onions are easy to grow from seed or scraps—but scraps are faster and free.
2. Lettuce
Save the bottom 1-2 inches of a lettuce head and place it in a shallow dish with water. Within a few days, new leaves will begin to sprout from the center.
Change the water every other day and watch it come back to life.
3. Carrots
While you can’t regrow full carrots, you can grow the greens. Place the top (the leafy end) in water, and it’ll sprout delicate, fern-like leaves that are great in salads and pestos.
4. Celery
Just like lettuce, keep the base of your celery stalk and sit it in a shallow bowl with water. It will start to regrow from the center in a matter of days.
Once roots appear, transfer to soil for best results.
5. Onions
Onions regrow beautifully. Cut off the root end and place it root-side down in moist soil or water until roots appear.
In a few weeks, you’ll have fresh onion greens or even a bulb forming.
6. Potatoes
If your potatoes sprout “eyes,” don’t toss them—plant them! Cut the potato into chunks, making sure each piece has an eye, and plant them in soil.
They need space and time, but one potato can yield many more.
Also Read: Why the World Can’t Compete with America’s Almond Game
7. Corn
Technically more advanced, but if you’re up for a challenge, regrowing corn from kernels is possible. Use fresh, organic corn kernels and plant them in nutrient-rich soil.
They need sun and time—but it’s doable!
8. Garlic
Plant a garlic clove (pointy side up) in soil. In no time, you’ll see green garlic shoots, which can be used just like green onions.
Eventually, it’ll form a new bulb beneath the surface.
9. Bok Choy
Just like celery and lettuce, place the base of bok choy in water and wait for the new center growth to appear. It’s quick and satisfying.
10. Leeks
Closely related to green onions, leeks grow back from their root ends. Place them in a glass of water and harvest the greens as they grow.
11. Sweet Potatoes
Place half a sweet potato in water using toothpicks to keep it partially submerged. After sprouting, plant slips (the shoots) into the soil to grow new sweet potatoes.
12. Fennel
Cut off the base (the bulb root portion) and set it in water. In a few days, green shoots will emerge. Transfer to soil for a full regrowth.
Quick Reference Chart for Regrowing Success
| Vegetable | Regrow Medium | Time to Sprout | Best Use |
| Green onions | Water | 2–5 days | Stir-fries, garnishes |
| Lettuce | Water | 3–5 days | Salads, wraps |
| Carrots | Water | 7–10 days | Greens for pesto |
| Celery | Water → Soil | 5–7 days | Soups, stews |
| Onions | Soil | 7–14 days | Cooking base |
Tips for Growing From Kitchen Scraps
- Change water regularly to prevent mold
- Use filtered water if possible
- Give them sun—a bright windowsill is perfect
- Transfer to soil if you want fuller plants and better growth
- Be patient—some veggies take time!
Also Read: 7 Fragrant Herbs That Drive Pests Crazy (and Beautify Your Home)
Personal Note – Why I Love Scrap Gardening
During the 2020 lockdown, I started regrowing carrots, celery, and onions just to avoid one more grocery trip. To my surprise, the process was calming and rewarding.
Soon, I was experimenting with lettuce, green onions, and even bok choy. Now, regrowing vegetables is a part of my weekly routine—and my compost bin has a lot less waste.
Small Scraps, Big Impact
Don’t underestimate what your leftover produce can do. With just a little care, these 12 vegetables you can grow from scraps can save you money, reduce waste, and make your kitchen feel alive with growth.
It’s beginner-friendly, cost-effective, and oddly addictive.
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