Wasting food is always a real bummer I love celery but It bothers me that we waste the little part on the bottom and the tougher ends and bits but you just can't use everything, or can you? I always recommend tossing these morsels in to the compost bin. But since I am constantly looking for other ways to recycle, reduce and reuse, I was very happy about 5 years ago when I first learned that you can re-grow celery from the bit you usually toss into the garbage (or better yet onto the compost pile! - You do have a compost pile don't you!!?)
Have you heard of this? Did you know that you can grow another complete celery stalk from the bottom piece that you cut off and throw away?
I use a lot of celery when cooking and I have been able to save quite a bit by re-growing it throughout the spring and summer.
Have you heard of this? Did you know that you can grow another complete celery stalk from the bottom piece that you cut off and throw away?
I use a lot of celery when cooking and I have been able to save quite a bit by re-growing it throughout the spring and summer.
Here's how you can re-grow celery too :
When you bring the celery home from the store or farmer's market, cut the end off first then put the rest into the refrigerator.
Instead of tossing the base, rinse it off and place it in a small saucer or bowl of warm water on or near a sunny windowsill — base side down and cut stalks facing upright. Leave it there for a week and change the water every day or two.
Over the course of the week, the surrounding stalks will begin to dry out significantly, but the tiny little yellow/green leaves from the center of the base begin thickening, growing up and out from the center. They will soon unfurl and turn a healthy dark green. The growth is slow as celery is a slow grower anyway, but it is steady and very evident.
When you bring the celery home from the store or farmer's market, cut the end off first then put the rest into the refrigerator.
Instead of tossing the base, rinse it off and place it in a small saucer or bowl of warm water on or near a sunny windowsill — base side down and cut stalks facing upright. Leave it there for a week and change the water every day or two.
Over the course of the week, the surrounding stalks will begin to dry out significantly, but the tiny little yellow/green leaves from the center of the base begin thickening, growing up and out from the center. They will soon unfurl and turn a healthy dark green. The growth is slow as celery is a slow grower anyway, but it is steady and very evident.
After the 7 days are up, simply transferred your celery base to a planter container or raised kitchen garden bed and covered it completely except for the leaf tips. For containers use a mixture of dirt and potting soil.
It will grow a brand new top to be cut and used. After re-growing celery, you can cut and plant the bottom again for more new growth from the top. Once you have it growing, you can cut it off on an “as needed” basis and just keep it regrowing in the garden or pot.
It will grow a brand new top to be cut and used. After re-growing celery, you can cut and plant the bottom again for more new growth from the top. Once you have it growing, you can cut it off on an “as needed” basis and just keep it regrowing in the garden or pot.
I plan to start planting my cut celery bottoms in small pots or trays late next winter so that I have a few dozen to plant out into the vegetable garden in Spring. I wonder if I can grow it in a sunny window all winter!
Now you may never need to buy celery again!
Happy Gardening!
Now you may never need to buy celery again!
Happy Gardening!
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