How To Grow Spectacular Windowsill Plants from Kitchen Scraps

Looking for creative ways to repurpose waste? By creating beautiful windowsill plants from kitchen scraps, you can transform your kitchen into an indoor garden oasis and save a little money along the way.

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Windowsill Plants from Kitchen Scraps – Transforming Waste into Food

As someone who loves getting creative in the kitchen and saving money where I can, I’ve discovered the joys of indoor gardening and repurposing kitchen waste. It all started years ago when I learned green onions would continue to regrow when placed in a glass of water. That led me down the path of learning what scraps could be used in similar ways.

Now I’m hooked on the whole process of kitchen scrap gardening – learning what kitchen scraps have a second or third life makes me feel like I’m getting the most out of my money but also limits my waste in a small way.

If you want to find creative ways to repurpose your kitchen waste, I highly recommend trying windowsill gardening. You might be surprised by just how much you can grow from kitchen scraps. You might even end up with your own thriving little kitchen garden before you know it!

Benefits of Creating Windowsill Plants from Kitchen Scraps

Growing your food from kitchen scraps is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce food waste and enjoy fresh, nutritious produce right at home. By regrowing vegetables and herbs from their discarded ends or seeds, you can extend the life of your groceries and cultivate a sustainable, self-sufficient garden.

It saves you money on grocery bills, minimizes your environmental impact, and provides you with a continuous supply of healthy ingredients for your meals. Plus, it’s an engaging, hands-on activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

All you need is a small windowsill, a little water, sunlight, and patience and you can transform your food waste into a thriving edible garden.

Easy-to-Grow Plants from Leftover Kitchen Scraps

Celery

Place the dish in a sunny window and replace the water every day or two. After roughly a week the plant begins to regenerate. You’ll see the leaves start to grow from the center and eventually turn dark green.

Transfer to soil and water soon after. The outer stalks will start to rot if left in water too long. You can plant it in a pot or directly into the ground, but it’s important to ensure the leaves stick out.

In about 4 months you’ll be able to harvest and repeat the cycle. Can’t wait 4 months? Begin by buying one or two every month for the first 4 months and then you’ll have recurring new plants on a schedule.

PRO TIP – If you don’t use it fast enough try dicing and freezing for future use.

Related: Read more about freezing here.

This pan is perfect starting the regrowth process!

Green Onions

In my opinion, green onions are the simplest to transform into a windowsill plant from kitchen scraps. I always have a jar in my window with at least one bulb reproducing. They can be thrown into just about any recipe and frozen if you end up with too many and can’t use them quickly enough.

Cut the bulbs above the roots (the white part) and chop the green portion to use or freeze. Place upright in a jar and cover the roots with water, leaving the top part dry. Place in a sunny window. Change water out every few days and after just a couple of days, you’ll see new greens shooting up.

You can continue this process and regrow a few times but eventually, they will stop producing.  Alternatively, you can replant them in the ground or a pot once the shoots are about 4 inches long. As they continue to grow just snip off what you need, and they will continue to grow.

Lettuce

If you are like me, you have a hard time finishing lettuce from the grocery store before it starts going bad.  My favorite thing about romaine lettuce is how easy it is to regrow and always have just enough on hand for the last-minute burger you may need lettuce for.

The process is simple enough but unfortunately, all lettuce is not made equal.  I have had great success with romaine while many others have turned brown and died immediately.  While it never hurts to try – don’t get discouraged if your first experiment turns out badly.

Cut the lettuce at the base leaving about 1-2 inches.  Place stem side down in a dish and fill with a small amount of water.  Just enough to keep the end covered.  Place in a sunny window and continue to change the water every few days.

In just under 2 weeks, it will be as large as it’s going to be on your windowsill. At this point transfer to the ground or a pot. The water will no longer provide what the roots need – nutrients from the soil. 

Ginger Root

Instead of freezing ginger, next time you don’t use it all, try replanting it so it will continue growing.  It’s a tropical plant so it’s a perfect choice to create a windowsill plant from kitchen scraps.

Place the root in a small pot with soil, and buds facing up. Soon the shoots will rise from the soil and the roots begin to spread. In a few months, you’ll be able to cut what you need and cover again to continue the process. 

Root Vegetable Greens

While you can’t regrow the root vegetables like carrots, turnips, beets, and parsnips you can regrow the greens.  These are full of nutrients and great to be used in salads, smoothies, and juices.  

They are easy enough to regrow as well.  Just cut the top off leaving about an inch of the root and make sure about an inch of the greens are still intact as well.  You’ll want to remove the outer leaves leaving just the center of the greens.

Place in a shallow dish covering just the bottoms with a small amount of water. After just a few weeks you should have about 5 inches of greens and at this point, they should be transferred to nutrient-rich soil to continue growth. 

The best part about root vegetables is what an attractive windowsill plant they make from kitchen scraps! Eventually, you will see white flowers that will produce seeds you can use for your garden next year.

PRO TIP – Try making Carrot Top Pesto from your scraps!

Herbs

Herbs like basil are simple to regrow and can be turned into a thriving herb garden quickly.  Simply cut the stem leaving about 4 inches and place it in a glass of water.  Once the root has formed, it should be approximately 1 inch, transplant it to a pot with soil. 

Not ready to use the herbs yet? Use silicone molds – add oil and herbs, freeze, and move to a reusable freezer bag for storage.

Red and Yellow Onions

Cut about one inch of the top of the onion and submerge the roots in a shallow dish.  Place in a sunny window and soon green shoots will begin to grow.  Transplanting at this point to soil will ensure a longer life span or you can continue to watch them from the windowsill!

Essential Tips for Successful Windowsill Plants

Creating thriving windowsill plants from kitchen scraps is a rewarding and cost-effective way to grow your own greenery, but it requires careful attention to detail. Follow these essential tips and you’ll be enjoying thriving plants in no time.

Lighting is key – choose a spot that receives 6-8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight per day. Avoid direct afternoon sun, which can scorch delicate cuttings. The right soil mix is also crucial if using soil; use a well-draining potting mix formulated for propagation.

When it’s time to transplant, handle cuttings gently and plant them in slightly larger containers. Gradually introduce them to more sunlight to harden them off.

Yellowing or wilting leaves can also be a source of frustration. This is often a sign of overwatering or underwatering. Pay close attention to the soil moisture levels and adjust your watering schedule accordingly. Providing the right environment is key to keeping your scrap-grown plants healthy and vibrant.

What will you transform from kitchen scraps?

There you have it! Regrowing kitchen scraps is a smart, sustainable practice that allows you to get the most out of your grocery purchases. It’s an easy way to reduce food waste while also adding nutritious, homegrown elements to your cooking.

Give it a try and see the remarkable results for yourself – all from simply saving those veggie ends instead of tossing them.  Share this information with a friend and let me know what you transform into windowsill plants from kitchen scraps.

RELATED: Looking to save more at the grocery store?