Waste not, want not: Regrow your kitchen scraps

Transform your leftover fruits and vegetables into stunning houseplants, delightful kitchen window displays, and future garden additions — no need for the compost bin or trash can this fall! Kitchen scrap gardening is a fun and engaging way to embrace reusing and recycling while experimenting with plant remnants to regrow new life.

Many fruits and vegetables can be grown again with a little water and patience:

Celery — Instead of tossing out the bottom of your celery stalk, why not regrow it? Cut off about two inches from the base and place it in a shallow bowl with an inch of water, ensuring the water level stays consistent and changing it every few days to keep it fresh. In just a few days, you will see roots forming and green leaves sprouting from the center. After two to three weeks, your celery base will be ready for a planter with potting soil — just cover everything except the tips of the leaves. You can use this same method for other vegetables, such as lettuce, bok choy, cabbage, carrot greens, turnips, radishes, and beets.

Citrus — Many citrus plants, including lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine, can easily regrow from seeds. To start, remove the seeds from the fruit pulp and soak them in water for 24 hours to soften the seed coat. Discard any seeds that float. Next, plant the seeds about 1/2-inch deep in potting soil. They should germinate within two weeks. Citrus plants thrive on at least 8 hours of direct sunlight each day and should be watered when the soil feels dry. As your plants grow, you may want to transplant them into larger containers. They can be moved outdoors during the summer, but be sure to bring them back inside before the first frost in the fall. Keep in mind that these slow-growing plants may take several years to flower and bear fruit. Even if they never flower, they will still provide lush, green foliage for you to enjoy year-round.

Avocado — After enjoying a delicious ripe avocado, don’t discard the seed! Start by cleaning it and removing the thin brown seed coat. With the pointed end facing up, insert three toothpicks into the top third of the seed, spacing them evenly around it. Rest the seed on the rim of a clear jar filled with water, making sure the water touches the bottom of the seed. Change the water every couple of days to keep it fresh. In about a month, you should see roots and a sprout begin to emerge. Once the roots have filled the jar and the green shoot reaches six to eight inches tall, it’s time to plant it in a container with potting soil. During the summer, your new avocado plant can thrive on your outdoor patio or in your garden, but be sure to bring it indoors when temperatures drop below 45 degrees. Although you can grow a tree that reaches up to five feet tall, keep in mind it may take three years or more for it to produce fruit, and the avocados will be smaller than those you find in stores.

Pineapple — To regrow a pineapple, start with a ripe fruit that has healthy, green leaves. Cut the pineapple about 1/2 inch below the cluster of leaves, then remove the rind and any remaining fruit, leaving the tough core attached to the leaves. Gently pull off a few lower leaves to expose about an inch of the bottom of the stalk. Allow the green top to dry for a week before planting. Then, place the top one inch deep in a mixture of peat, sand, and perlite. Position the container in bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist but not soggy. In six to eight weeks, roots should begin to develop. When the weather is frost-free, you can place the container outside to enjoy some sunlight. After two to three years, your plant should produce a new fruit.

Growing plants from kitchen scraps can be both fun and rewarding, though it requires some patience. Unlike the complex processes involved in commercial vegetable and fruit production, such as grafting, homegrown plants may not always match the polished look of store-bought produce. However, the joy of nurturing these plants can inspire you to explore new gardening adventures in your home or garden this year. Other plants to consider regrowing are green onion, lemongrass, garlic, and herbs. Embrace the cycle of recycling, reusing, and regrowing!

Brittnay Haag is a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford counties.