We all throw away the chopped-off edges of onions and leek. But do you know that you can put those edges in soil, and they will grow into onions and leeks? Of course, they have to be organic; the non-organic ones are sprayed with chemicals and thus they will not grow back.
So, I immerse the chopped-edge of onion in small amount of water. Within couple of hours or maximum a day, I see fresh white roots emerging from the sides. I then plant in some soil. The second picture shows the green onion plants growing from such chopped off edges. Garlic plant growing from store-bought organic garlic clove; one of the potato in the potato-bag was budding. So, I put it in the soil, and couple of days later a potato plant is growing.
But, my prized possessions are the leeks that I am growing from chopped-off edges. While cooking leeks, we all throw away the edge which has the roots. Instead of throwing them away, I put them in the soil, and within couple of days a plant emerges. And, they grow fast!!! This whole plant has grown from that tiny edge within two weeks. Soon, I have to transplant them outside or in bigger containers and need to start putting soil around it to blanch the lower portion.
So far, I am growing onion, leek, garlic and potato from store-bought items. Now, I hear you. You will tell me that the store-bought potato might have some disease and that will affect my garden. I have not had such bad luck so far (touch-wood). I also believe that if you take care of soil, respect nature, love and caress and talk to your plants and don't use chemicals, no such accidents will happen. That has been my experience so far. But, who knows? I might be wrong as I am still a novice gardener. Re-using such store bought items and throw-away parts not only helps in sustainability but also in saving :-). Sweet potato slips can also be grown in similar ways - by hanging a sweet potato in water -- but no luck so far. Grrrrrrrrrrr.........
Do you have any ideas/advice/suggestions for growing food from store-bought items?
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So, I immerse the chopped-edge of onion in small amount of water. Within couple of hours or maximum a day, I see fresh white roots emerging from the sides. I then plant in some soil. The second picture shows the green onion plants growing from such chopped off edges. Garlic plant growing from store-bought organic garlic clove; one of the potato in the potato-bag was budding. So, I put it in the soil, and couple of days later a potato plant is growing.
But, my prized possessions are the leeks that I am growing from chopped-off edges. While cooking leeks, we all throw away the edge which has the roots. Instead of throwing them away, I put them in the soil, and within couple of days a plant emerges. And, they grow fast!!! This whole plant has grown from that tiny edge within two weeks. Soon, I have to transplant them outside or in bigger containers and need to start putting soil around it to blanch the lower portion.
So far, I am growing onion, leek, garlic and potato from store-bought items. Now, I hear you. You will tell me that the store-bought potato might have some disease and that will affect my garden. I have not had such bad luck so far (touch-wood). I also believe that if you take care of soil, respect nature, love and caress and talk to your plants and don't use chemicals, no such accidents will happen. That has been my experience so far. But, who knows? I might be wrong as I am still a novice gardener. Re-using such store bought items and throw-away parts not only helps in sustainability but also in saving :-). Sweet potato slips can also be grown in similar ways - by hanging a sweet potato in water -- but no luck so far. Grrrrrrrrrrr.........
Do you have any ideas/advice/suggestions for growing food from store-bought items?
I didn't know you could do that with onions, We grew pineapple offcuts as a child.
ReplyDeleteHey Gaz, yes that's correct -- I remember I also tried to grow pineapple once in that way. It was growing beautifully until I forgot and a cold freeze killed it. Thanks for reminding :-)
DeleteInteresting. We throw that stuff in the compost, but maybe come spring I'll at least give the leaks a try.
ReplyDeleteHi Jason,
DeleteWe also used to throw those in the compost. But now that I have learned about it, everything is going under soil in pots instead of compost :-)
This is really interesting. I've never grown leeks or onions but may give this method a try. :o) I love cooking with leeks and would love to have them handy in the garden so I don't have to go to the store so much.
ReplyDeleteCasa Mariposa: Thanks :-). Please try and let me know about your success. Mine are growing big.
DeleteGood idea about the leek tips. Will sure to remember it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Malay-kadazan girl.
DeleteI love this idea with leeks and onions...for sweets I find they prefer dark to sprout....I had one sprouting in my larder which dark and room temp.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
DeleteThanks for the information. I was putting them in front of grow light. Perhaps that's the reason they are not yet sprouting though I see the white tiny roots emerging. Plants are so finicky - some like it hot and some like it cold; some like it light and some like it dark!!
I didn't know that! But, I always buy organic, so I will give this a try! Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteHi HolleyGarden, Thank you and let me know how yours are doing.
DeleteI didn't realise it worked in that way with onions. I grow sweet potatoes from shoots from store bought ones, also lemon grass. I've been meaning to try galangal and there's no reason why it wouldn't work for ginger or turmeric provided the rhizome was in good condition.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz, I have been trying hard with ginger and tumeric. Finding them very difficult to grow. Do you have any tips?
DeleteI don't grow vegetables so I can't offer any expert advice, but I think I have read the you would get a lot bigger harvest if you planted seed potatoes rather than just normal potatoes from the grocery store. You could do an experiment, do both and see if there was a difference, and then come here and tell us :-)
ReplyDeleteHelene: Good advice :-). I should try that out - using both seed potatos and store-bought ones.
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