Kitchen Scraps
houseplants

houseplants

Who knew that you could grow ‘houseplants’ using kitchen scraps?

I was inspired to find gardening projects that could be done indoors, for those gardeners who are stuck inside during cold winters.

The photos below were taken over a 14 day period from planting, to what they look like just 2 weeks later.  I must admit that I am quite impressed.

I started with growing a radish…

houseplants

I am hoping that my radish plant will flower at some point because I have heard that radish flowers are quite pretty.

houseplants

My garlic cloves grew quickly and I will use the greens as a garnish, much like I would use green onions.  Garlic greens have a mild garlic flavor.

Kitchen Scraps

My lentils are quite pretty and delicate looking.  I am waiting for them to flower, which will make them even prettier.

Kitchen Scraps

I realize that many people have grown a vine from a sweet potato – but I hadn’t tried it.  After it grows, the vine will be a pretty addition to my kitchen windowsill garden.  Now that the roots are growing, I will hopefully see some green sprouting on top.

Kitchen Scraps

I did have one plant that didn’t come up.  The book that I was inspired by said that you could plant fresh green beans, but mine didn’t grow.

**You can also plant dried beans after soaking them overnight and they should come up.

The goal of this project wasn’t to grow ‘food’, but to enjoy the foliage of the plants themselves and brighten up a dreary winter for those who live in cold climates.

I really had fun with this project.  I think it would be a great activity to do with kids, don’t you?

Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
7 replies
  1. biobabbler
    biobabbler says:

    This is genius. Perusing pinterest for home spruce up inspiration, I keep seeing accents of flowers, flowering plants, living things, and that is WAY missing in my home, save for the 1 planted basil and the other basil STILL IN THE GLASS where it's been living and growing since fall. Oops.

    I need to PLANT stuff. And garlic is genius (and always here), and that's really interesting re: soaking & sprouting beans–who knew? So, thank you for a great trick re: brightening up the great indoors. =)

  2. Stiletto
    Stiletto says:

    After seeing your kitchen plants on the window sill and reading so much about planting your own food, I think I shall start small like what you are doing now.

  3. arizonaplantlady@gmail.com
    arizonaplantlady@gmail.com says:

    Thank you so much for your kind comments. The 'black stuff' is activated charcoal (the same kind you use in fish tanks). It helps to keep the water clean.

    Hi Robin,
    I haven't really tried growing avocado's, but my sister has had great luck growing them.

    Noelle

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