Saturday, January 26, 2019
Q. I heard we can grow new vegetable plants from our scraps from the kitchen this winter. Is this possible? What are the details?
Shelly from Austintown
A. Yes, these kitchen scraps can be recycled into new plants. We all know that food scraps are great for our compost pile, but as Shelly mentions – they are so much more.
I can see advantages for the young and old. What a great way to get the kids and grandkids interested in growing things during winter.
In the dead of winter when all gardeners are longing to see something green, I call growing kitchen scraps horticultural therapy.
House plants kind of fill the void, but I challenge you to find a kid interested in a houseplant. However, the process of first eating part of a vegetable, planting the scraps and watching it grow may spark an interest. Most of the vegetables will send out roots or leaves quickly. Here are some ideas to try:
Green onions: Save the bottom 3 inches of a green onion or shallots. Get a clean vase or Mason jar, fill with about 4 inches of water. Chlorinated tap water is not recommended for growing vegetables. Let tap water set out in room temperature for at least two days or use distilled water. Place on a sunny window sill and watch it grow – it’s that simple. Change the water every day or so. You should see growth in a few days.
Lettuce, bok choy and lemon grass: Romaine works best. Just place the bottom 3 inches in a glass with 5 inches of de-chlorinated water. Place near a sunny window. Change the water as above.
Sweet potato: Purchase a yam or sweet potato that you can see the beginning of an eye just starting to grow. You need a wide-mouth jar. Place about 4 inches of water (good water, see above) in the jar. Poke three toothpicks into the potato, this will anchor it in the jar. About 2 inches of the potato should be in water. Find a sunny spot and watch what happens.
Bean sprouts: Soak a few beans overnight, in a jar covered with a paper towel, drain water off in the morning and put back into the container. Do the same thing each night until you see sprouts appear.
Garlic: So easy. Just place a clove in a pot of soil. Keep in a sunny place, water when dry.
Celery: Cut the bottom off, place in a bowl with warm water. Place in direct sunlight. You should see new leaves in a week or so.
Pineapple: Cut off the top, insert a few toothpicks to hold it above a container filled with water. Place in sunlight. Change the water every day or so. Keep the water so it just about reaches the base. You should see roots in a week or so. You can then transplant into soil.
Many vegetables and fruits can be started from “waste.” Save some orange seeds, dry them and plant in soil. You’ll have an orange tree. Although you don’t have the perfect conditions and won’t produce an exceptional plant in all cases, it is a fun way to enjoy the winter months. And yes – some things can be transplanted outside when warmer weather arrives.
You can plan your winter scrap-growing by going to: http://go.osu.edu/scraps.
Marilyn McKinley is an OSU Extension master gardener volunteer in Mahoning County. Winter hours for the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic vary. Submit questions to the clinic at 330-533-5538 or drop samples off at the OSU Extension Office in Canfield.