Vegetables You Can Regrow in Water (What Works and What Doesn’t)

Did you know you can regrow some vegetables in water using scraps you’d likely normally throw away? It’s a simple way to reduce waste and stretch your grocery budget—but it’s important to know that it's not quite as magical as it sounds.

In this post, I’ll show you which vegetables actually regrow in water, how to do it, what to realistically expect, and how to make it work better (including some things most people don’t tell you).

Some vegetables regrow much better than others, and I’ll show you which ones are worth trying first.

Growing your own food is a great way to save money on healthy groceries, but not everyone has the space or the green thumb to have a big garden.

Here are the ins and outs of a very simple garden you can start in your kitchen, from literal kitchen scraps! And all you need is a few bowls, some light and water.

Vegetables You Can Regrow in Water

You can regrow these vegetables in water from kitchen scraps:

• Lettuce (romaine works best)
• Celery
• Bok choy
• Cabbage
• Fennel
• Leeks
• Lemongrass
• Green onions (also called scallions)
• Garlic (for greens, aka scapes, only)

Other onions (like red, white, and pearl onions) can also grow green shoots in water, though they won’t regrow a full onion bulb.

Best Vegetables to Regrow in Water

Some vegetables regrow more easily than others. These are the best ones to start with:

• Green Onions
• Lettuce
• Celery
• Bok Choy

These vegetables are some of the easiest to regrow in water because they grow from a central base. When you cut off the bottom, the growing point is still intact, allowing new leaves to form from the center.

Their base stores energy that helps push out new growth more quickly than other plants.

Since these are mostly leafy vegetables, they don’t require a full root system to begin growing again, which makes them especially well-suited for simple water regrowth.

Green onions are especially great for beginners because they regrow quickly and can often regrow multiple times.

What to Expect When Regrowing Vegetables in Water

This is where many guides leave things out, but understanding these limitations will help you get better results.

Most vegetables will not fully regrow.
In many cases, you’ll only get partial growth—like new leaves or shoots rather than a full plant.

Lettuce regrows from the center only.
When regrowing lettuce, only the inner leaves will continue to grow, so you’ll typically end up with about half a head rather than a full one.

Some vegetables produce greens, not the original vegetable.
For example, carrots won’t regrow into new carrots, but they'll instead grow leafy tops that can be used to make pesto, chimichurri, or can be sauteed.

Growth slows over time.
Even with the best care, most vegetables will only regrow once or will produce smaller yields after the first round.

Water alone has limited nutrients.
Since plants normally get nutrients from soil, growth in water will likely be slower or less robust unless additional nutrients are added.

How to Regrow Vegetables in Water

Here are the simple steps to regrow any of these veggies in water.

• Cut 1-2 inches of root end of vegetable off
• Place root end of the vegetable in shallow water
• Keep leaves above water

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• Set near sunlight
• Change water every 1–3 days
• Transfer plants to a larger container or into soil if you want continued growth beyond the initial regrowth stage

Should You Add Minerals to the Water?

While vegetables can regrow in plain water, it’s important to remember that plants naturally rely on minerals from soil to grow well.

Because of that, regrowth in water alone is often slower or produces smaller results, and may not be as nutrient-rich as produce grown in soil or with added nutrients.

Some people choose to add a small amount of nutrients to the water, such as diluted fertilizer, hydroponic nutrients, or trace mineral drops, to support better growth. This can make a noticeable difference in how well they regrow.

Water quality can also make a difference, so using filtered water is often a better option than straight tap water.

More Frugal Gardening Tips to Help You Save Even More

• Save Money Starting Seeds
• 14 Ways to Get Free Plants for Your Garden
• 27 Tips for Gardening on a Budget

I'd love to hear how this works out for you!