First, here are some general guidelines to follow:
• Check the water regularly. Make sure that the water for each re-growing crop is checked to see that the quantity is healthy and that no rogue lettuce pieces fall off and slime up your bowl.
• Use a container of the right size. This should be relative to the size of the food being grown. For instance, green onion and lemongrass can grow in tall, narrow glasses, while lettuce and celery require more shallow containers. You may use recycled containers for this, such as glass jars, small vases, storage bowls and shot glasses. These can also make lovely centerpieces for your table, being practical at the same time.
• You can keep your little crops growing indoors. Anywhere close to a window would work fine.
• You may re-grow the same plant more than once, as long as the area does not get overcrowded. 1-2 green onions can fit in a shot glass and 3-4 lemongrass will fit in a small vase.
The following are 10 foods that re-grow using water alone
1. Leeks
Cut off 2-3" from the bottom of the leek stalk and place it in a cup of water. The center of the plant will start to grow. Although usually only the green part is used for cooking, you can still use the grown parts with onions - for instance - for some added flavor.
2. Bok Choy
To re-grow bok choy, cut off the bottom of the stalk and place it in a small bowl of water. You will see signs of growth at the center after one or two days, and it can grow substantially in less than a week.
3. Cabbage
Pour some water in a shallow bowl and place the root end of the cabbage into it. In no time, the center will start to grow. It is recommended to harvest on the smaller side for the best flavor.
4. Carrot greens
Replant the carrot by placing its cut-off end in a shallow bowl of water. This will not re-grow an actual carrot, but the greens it produces from the top. They will also look and taste good in your salad.
5. Celery
Cut off the celery stalk 2" from the bottom and place it in a small bowl of water. It will take three to four days until growth in the center becomes noticeable. It may take some time for a full stalk to grow, but you can always use the center growth to add flavor to dishes.
6. Fennel
Cut off 1" from the bottom of the fennel base so that the roots are intact. Place it in a small bowl of water and watch it grow.
7. Garlic chives
Re-growing garlic cloves will produce the green you can use with your salad dishes and baked potatoes. Place as few as one clove in a small cup of shallow water, without covering it completely. In a couple of days, you will get roots, then shoots will follow.
8. Lemongrass
Get new shoots from your lemongrass by cutting off 2-3" from its bottom and placing it in a tall container filled with 1/2" of water. Expect growth from the center.
9. Lettuce
Grab a head of lettuce and cut off the bottom. Place it in a bowl of water and, in just 3 days, you will be able to see the growth occurring at the center. You will have a new half-head of lettuce in only about 2 weeks!
10. Green onion
Grab the white part of the onion that has roots still intact and place it in a glass of water for an easy supply of fresh green onion, whenever you need it.
Bonus: Other foods
There are other fruits and vegetables that can re-grow using just a scrap of their original harvest and some water. Each of them need to be placed in water, at least to start off, and then can be transferred to soil for full growth and harvest. More foods include:
• avocado
• basil
• beets
• cilantro
• ginger
• lemon balm
• mint
• mushrooms
• onions (white/yellow/red)
• parsnips
• pineapple
• potatoes
• rosemary
• sweet potatoes
• turnips
Alternatively, you can keep the seeds or pits of some fruits and plant them in your garden to grow your very own plant or tree. Here are some fruits and vegetables you can do this with:
• apples
• cherries
• lemons
• nectarines
• peaches
• peppers (sweet and hot)
• plums
• pumpkins
• tomatoes
