6 ways to magically regrow vegetables in the same water
Numerous articles on horticultural "hacks" assume that everyone has enough space for nutritious soil and plenty of plants. It will not be one of them. We know that these horticultural staples are not always readily available, especially if you live in a city. Fortunately, there are some vegetables that can be regenerated using only water and sunlight. The prototype behind replanting vegetable scraps in water is simple: plants are generally built to use energy from the sun and nutrients from the earth. A small glass or dish of water will not provide the same nutrients as hearty soil, but plants can still use it to grow new tasty shoots or soil-ready roots.
Plants that grow shoots
You can easily re-grow edible stems and leaves of some common kitchen vegetables by placing their inedible base in water. For best results, place these stumps in a sunny window and change the water frequently.
Lettuce and cabbage
Once you have torn all the leaves for your salad, you can usually discard the hard white slice at the base of the head of the cabbage or lettuce. But by soaking this part in water, you can pull out some fresh leaves. Place an inch or two of water in a wide mug or shallow bowl, side by side with the leaf, and check frequently that it is not thin on the outside. Within a week or two, new baby leaves will begin to sprout from the center of the stump. Your pet head will not return to its full leaf glory, but it is a great way to garnish or add to a great meal.
Celery and leeks
Most shops and markets sell celery and leeks while their bases are still attached, sometimes with small white roots already hanging. This makes it very easy to grow these vegetables again: In a small glass, cover the bottom with an inch of water and wait for the new stems to emerge. Be sure to fill it when the water subsides - but do not over-submerge the base and water the plant. Your new sprouts will be thinner than the original sprouts, but even a small amount of these crunchy crops will add flavor to a variety of foods.
Garlic and green onions
Although you can not regenerate garlic or onion bulbs without soil, these aromatic plants will only germinate delicious green shoots in water. Place the garlic cloves in a small cup of water and suspend it through the toothpicks so that the bottom is underwater, but not over. Do this a few inches under the green onion or scallion. Within a few short days, you should begin to notice signs of green growth. You can harvest these scallions and garlic shoots (called scabs) with regular kitchen scissors and water them to produce more.
Root-growing plants
Suppose you have a pot of soil or two pots, but do not have the patience (or green thumbs) to grow vegetables from seed. The good news: Water and sunlight will encourage vegetable scraps from your kitchen to grow roots that will keep the large plant in the soil. Build these strong, healthy roots first in H2O and then turn the vegetable into good dirt.
Herbs
It only takes a sprig of coriander, thyme, basil, or another herb to grow a whole plant back. The next time you use your favorite herb in the kitchen, set aside healthy spruce that grows a few leaves - the stem below the lower leaf should be a few inches long. Then suspend this splash in a small glass of water using a toothpick or curved paper clip. Submerge the base of the stem, but let the leaves dry. You should soon see underwater roots begin to germinate. When the roots are more than an inch long, transfer the mini plant to the soil - the area that was underwater should now be under the dirt. With diligent watering, sunlight, and patience, your little herb can grow into a full-fledged plant.
Tubers
Like garlic and the herbs above, you will need some toothpicks or some other type of suspension system to grow some famous tartars. With the right structure, the potato and its relatives, like the tuber, can germinate both underwater roots and leaves in the air. Place a small piece at least one eye upwards and out of the water. Some weekly Raja, from the pale knots in the rhizome, plant the whole in the soil and water regularly. After four to six weeks, the new plant will begin to add mass to the ground, simply dig it out, cut a piece for your recipe, and allow it to bury again. After the ring, you should see growth at both ends of the piece. Then, bury these sprouted tubers in the soil with the leaves above the ground. Eventually, the plant will grow a new root mass, which you can dig up and eat next year.
Ginger
While one part of the ginger plant we eat is often called the root, it is actually another part of the plant: a rhizome. Even a small piece of ginger can germinate roots and greens just like potatoes. Your ginger hunk should be partially suspended in water until the roots emerge and grow to a length of one or two inches. Ginger is a tropical plant, so try to keep its environment warm - at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit, but not below 50 degrees. Ginger roots and at least once a green spruce King, from the pale knots in the rhizome, plant the whole in the soil and pour water regularly. After four to six weeks, the new plant will begin to add mass to the ground, dig it out, cut a piece into your recipe, and allow it to bury again.
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