Zero waste
Regrow from Scraps
Start a real harvest from food you'd otherwise throw away. Each entry below has been hand-graded for honesty — no Pinterest clickbait, only methods that actually produce something edible.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Basil
★★★★★
A fresh basil plant from a single supermarket sprig within 3 weeks.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Mint
★★★★★
A full pot within a month, indefinite supply thereafter.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Spring Onion
★★★★★
Indefinite — keep snipping the green tops and the same root will regrow for months.
Plant directly into soil
Garlic
★★★★★
Young 'green garlic' shoots in a month; full bulbs in 8–9 months if planted in autumn.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Watercress
★★★★★
Spicy, peppery leaves within 2 weeks — keep cutting.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Lemongrass
★★★★★
A productive clump within 3 months — snip outer stalks as needed.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Thai Basil
★★★★★
A new plant from a single supermarket stem in 3 weeks.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Purple Basil
★★★★★
Decorative AND edible — a striking purple pot in 3 weeks.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Greek Basil
★★★★★
Tighter, smaller plant — perfect for a windowsill pot.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Spearmint
★★★★★
Classic mint flavour, easy as it gets.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Peppermint
★★★★★
Strong menthol mint from a single cutting — indefinite.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Chocolate Mint
★★★★★
Genuinely smells like After Eights — instant kid hit.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Welsh Onion
★★★★★
Indefinite indoors; perennial once moved to soil.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Leek
★★★★☆
Pencil-thin baby leeks for soup in 3 weeks; full leeks if planted out in autumn.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Pak Choi
★★★★☆
One or two harvests of small leaves before it bolts.
Plant directly into soil
Elephant Garlic
★★★★☆
Mild garlicky green shoots in a month; football-sized bulbs in 9 months.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Lettuce
★★★☆☆
10–14 days of small new leaves, then it bolts (sends up a flower stem and turns bitter).
Root in water, transfer to soil
Chives
★★★☆☆
A few snips of fine green tops in 3 weeks; perennial once potted.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Onion
★★★☆☆
Green onion-flavoured shoots (use like spring onion); rarely produces a full bulb again.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Cos Lettuce
★★★☆☆
Crunchy small leaves for ~2 weeks.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Butterhead Lettuce
★★★☆☆
Soft, mild leaves for 10–14 days before bolting.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Oakleaf Lettuce
★★★☆☆
Pretty frilly leaves for ~2 weeks.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Garlic Chives
★★★☆☆
Mild garlicky leaves; perennial.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Carrot
★★☆☆☆
Feathery edible carrot-tops for garnish or pesto. No new carrot will grow.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Beetroot
★★☆☆☆
Coloured leaves (chard-like) — no new root.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Florence Fennel
★★☆☆☆
Fronds for garnish — not a second bulb.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Celery
★★☆☆☆
A small clump of stalky leaves — never a supermarket-sized head.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Cabbage
★★☆☆☆
Small loose-leaf cabbage greens — no second head.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Iceberg Lettuce
★★☆☆☆
Loose leaves only; you won't get a second iceberg head.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Savoy Cabbage
★★☆☆☆
Crinkly small leaves — no head.
Root in water, transfer to soil
Red Cabbage
★★☆☆☆
Pretty purple-tinged loose leaves; no head.