Food waste is an issue that starts at an industrial level but extends right down to our own kitchens. In this article, Nicky Roeber, online horticultural expert at Wyevale Garden Centres, shares five fruits and vegetables you can re-grow from scraps to help combat waste in your home.
One of the easiest ways of reducing the amount you throw away is by taking the scraps of fruits and vegetables you've already used and re-growing fresh produce from them. Below, I've listed five greens you can easily re-use to cultivate a delicious, new crop in your garden.
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.
LETTUCE
Which part regrows? Base of stalk
The basis of almost any summer salad, lettuce is one of the most widely eaten leafy greens. Apart from being incredibly nutritious, delicious, and crispy, this veggie also has properties that help to promote regular sleep and control anxiety.
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.
ONIONS
What part regrows? Roots
Onions can add their unique flavour to a whole host of dishes in your kitchen, so it's well worth re-growing them and getting your money's worth! Not only are they flavoursome, but they provide your diet with essential vitamins, minerals, iron, and fibre.
To re-grow: Remove the bottom half-inch of the onion along with the roots, then leave it to dry for an hour or two. Next, find a sunny spot in your vegetable patch and plant the scraps, taking care to cover the top with soil. Keep the soil moist to the point where the bulb starts to re-grow, then the plant will begin to appear after a few days.
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 nation's favourite vegetables and a regular fixture of our diets. And, because we use them so often, it's an excellent idea to regrow potatoes in your garden.
To re-grow: Among your batch of potatoes, pick one out that has 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 growing 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. You can then transplant the spouts that emerge when springtime rolls around.
Follow this advice and you will be able to cut down on food waste by putting those scraps to work in your garden. Not only will you be helping to save the planet, but you'll also save money on your grocery shop and be able to look forward to fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables.