So I would like to start this off by saying that I do not have a green thumb. I have tried for years to grow basil plants, parsley, and many others, and I have killed every single one of them. But, when I started my Zero Waste/Low Impact journey, I saw a lot of tips on how to grow plants from your scraps – and it actually worked (when I remember to water it)! So here are 5 scraps based plants that I have grown.
- Shallots (Scallions)
I am truly still shocked at how easy this one was and how fast these grew. I put the bottoms of the shallots in a glass of water, I changed the water every time it got cloudy (maybe every 2 days or so) and within 2-3 weeks, this is what i had – completely new, fresh shallots ready to use.The bottom does need a large amount of washing, as the water does smell a little bit, but these are super tasty and look to be growing for the third time, but only time will tell. - OnionNow I don’t have a picture of my onion right now, but it did grow in water for about a month before I planted it. It grew almost like onion sprouts, and then the bottom started to fall away. But apparently, now that I have planted it, it will grow an onion plant, which will flower, and then give me onion seeds, which will grow more onions. I’ll keep you posted!
- Aloe Vera
So this one wasn’t totally from scraps, but rather from a cut off from my friends plant. It did have some roots, but it was a tiny little cut of that is starting to grow into a blossoming plant. It has been great for cuts, bruises, and sunburn, so I haven’t had to buy any plastic packaged products. Yay! - Lettuce
This is one I have heard about a lot, but I am loving it. I have been growing this one for about a week and it is already sprouting soo much! I am so excited to eat this and see how many times I am able to regrow it. I’ll do an update when i have more pictures. - Confidence and Understanding
No, this isn’t the name of some new plant, but it is something that I have been able to build since beginning to grow my own foods. There was a day a few weeks back where it was really hot. I looked at my parsley plant and it looked a little droopy and sad. Yes, my plant looked sad. So I went inside, grabbed some water and gave it a good drink. within ten minutes, my limp plant was a bright, vibrant plant. That was when I think I truly understood how and why my gardening had never been successful before. The plant may not have feelings, but it is a living thing that needs to be cared for – and this has been the most valuable lesson imaginable. And now? Full steam ahead (hopefully)!
I would love to hear about your plant growing successes in the comments below and want to subscribe – click here to receive email updates every time we post a blog.
