4 fruit and veg you can grow from scratch

You have arrived at the Frankenstein centre for food waste.

3 minutes read

Only the Frankenstein centre for growing food from scratch is less spooky, and whole lot better for the planet. In fact, the only real horror story here is that 60% of food waste can be avoided, but we’re not doing enough about it! And hey, Frankenstein was a lovely fella in the end. So here are a few ways you can grow veg from scratch, as told by horticultural expert Nicky Roeber.

CELERY

Which part regrows? Base of stalk

Celery is an excellent source of essential vitamins and fibre. Whether you’ve made a celery soup, enjoyed it as part of a stir fry, or crunched on some celery sticks with hummus, your scraps are a great choice for re-growing in your veggie patch.

To re-grow: Salvage around 2 inches from the base of a celery bunch and store it in a bowl of water. Be sure to keep the top moist by spraying it daily and replace the water every other day until new roots emerge. At this point, you can re-plant in the soil, where your celery will take root and grow.

POTATOES

What part regrows? Skin

Whether you’re mashing them, enjoying them with their jackets still on, or preparing some homemade chips, potatoes are one of the nations favourite vegetables and a regular fixture to our diets. And, because we eat them so often, it’s an excellent idea to regrow potatoes in your garden.

To re-grow: Among your batch of potatoes, pick one with plenty of ‘eyes’ (seeds) on it and remove about two inches of the peel. Leave the peel to dry overnight, then dig a four-inch-deep hole in your garden, add some nutritious compost and plant the peel “eyes-side-up”. New roots should soon begin to grow soon after.

STRAWBERRIES

What part regrows? Skin

Here in the UK, strawberries are a big summertime favourite for their juicy and sweet taste. Aside from being the perfect dessert fruit, they’re also a healthy source of vitamins, minerals, and fibres. So, why not cut down on your summer food shop and re-grow your strawberries from scraps?

To re-grow: You know the pimpled appearance of a strawberry’s skin? Those are actually the seeds you can use to grow another batch if you extract them. The easiest way to do this is with a cocktail stick or a pair of tweezers, or by removing the skin from each berry before you eat them. Plant these seeds in a container with soil and place it in a sunny spot, taking care to water regularly.

LETTUCE

Which part regrows? Base of stalk

The basis of almost any summer salad, lettuce is one of the most widely eaten leafy greens.

To re-grow: Take the base of a head of lettuce and place it in a bowl of water. Store the bowl in direct sunlight and replace the water every two days. Soon, you’ll begin to see new leaves appearing, which you can use for your favourite side salad or sandwich. You won’t see a new head of lettuce emerging, but these fresh new leaves are worth the extra effort.