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With fresh veggies and fruits practically bursting out of the produce section right now, it’s the time of year that can inspire you to grow some of your own food. Even those without gardens, with the brownest of green thumbs, have walked past the fresh basil pots at the grocery store and thought, “I should really do that instead of spending money on a single bunch.”
And since you’re spending money on food, anyway, why not get more out of it? It turns out there’s a useful chart of foods you can re-grow on your own at home — after you’ve already made the stop at the store or farmers market and doled out your cash — that really embraces this philosophy.
The idea is simple: Use your food scraps from your kitchen, from green onions and potatoes to garlic to pineapple (!), to grow more and save some cash. It’s the ultimate upcycle.
You can grow some of these foods in a pot on your windowsill. Others will require more space, because they’ll eventually turn into 6-foot-tall plants.
Chef Jerry James Stone originally partnered with Whole Foods for this chart, which the grocer posted to Pinterest. A version also appears on his blog, Jerry James Stone.
Green onions, leeks and similar greens might be the easiest veggies to regrow on this chart. You already chop off the rooted bottom of these plants when you cook, anyway. Drop those bulbs root-down in water, just enough to cover the roots, and place them in a sunny window. New tops should start to grow in mere days. Change the water every few days or so, and once you have nice leafy tops, chop them off and start the process all over again.
Of course, there’s one notable food that isn’t on this list: the avocado. That might be because growing an avocado tree yourself is rather challenging. But one company is trying to make it a somewhat simpler proposition. The AvoSeedo helps you perfectly position an avocado pit to start growing your very own avocado tree. The kit goes for $19.95 on Amazon … but you’ll have to wait 5-6 years (if you’re lucky) for your tree to yield fruit.
Hmm, maybe we should stick to the scallions.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.
