Regrow your kitchen scraps into a endless backyard harvest

Are you also someone who simply discards kitchen leftovers and scraps, then you must sit back and read on as these scraps can be used to make a wonderful harvest. Instead of tossing out veggie stubs and bottom ends, you can actually use them to grow brand-new plants. It is one of the easiest, most rewarding ways to save money, reduce waste, and get your hands a little dirty. You don’t need a massive green thumb or expensive gear, just some water, soil, and a bit of patience. Here is how you can transform your daily food scraps into an endless backyard harvest.

Green onions
Green onions are the absolute gateway drug of scrap gardening. Next time you use them, save the white bottom roots (about an inch long) and stand them upright in a small glass of water. Keep the water fresh, and within just a few days, you will see bright green shoots rocketing upward. Once the roots get thick, transplant them into your yard or a patio pot. You can do the exact same thing with celery bases—just place the root stump in water, wait for the center to leaf out, and move it to the dirt.

Garlic and Potatoes
Got a clove of garlic that started sprouting a little green nub in your pantry? Don't throw it out. Bury that single clove a couple of inches deep in loose soil before the winter freeze or in early spring, with the pointed end facing up. By summer, it will multiply into a whole new head of garlic. Potatoes are even easier. If you have an old spud growing "eyes," chop it into chunks (making sure each chunk has at least one eye), let them dry for a day, and bury them in a deep container or a backyard dirt mound.

Tomatoes and Peppers
The next time you slice open a juicy heirloom tomato or a sweet bell pepper, look at all those free seeds. For peppers, you can scrape the seeds straight onto a damp paper towel to sprout them, or plant them directly into small seed-starting cups. For tomatoes, scoop the seeds out into a cup of water for a few days to let the gooey coating ferment, rinse them off, and plant them. Before you know it, your backyard will be bursting with fresh vines and bushes.

Quick Tip: When rooting scraps in water, change the water every single day. Sluggish, stagnant water breeds bacteria and will rot your plants before they ever get a chance to make it to your backyard!