Grow Your Own Plants for Free: 8 Vegetables that can be propagated from cuttings for next year's harvest
In a bid to extend your vegetable supply, reduce waste, and explore the joy of gardening, consider propagating your favourite vegetables from kitchen scraps or simple cuttings. This low-cost method is not only easy but also offers an opportunity to experiment with various varieties.
Tomatoes, for instance, readily form adventitious roots along their stems, making them ideal for rooting in water or soil. Within days, the cuttings develop roots, and new plants can be ready for transplanting in about two weeks [1]. Celery, lettuce, and cabbage follow a similar pattern, with their base scraps placed in water to encourage new root and leaf growth before transplanting [2].
Microgreens, such as radish, broccoli, pea shoots, and sunflower, although grown from seed rather than cuttings, are an easy, fast-growing option for indoor cultivation, providing nutrient-dense greens in just 7-21 days [4].
Other vegetables like cucumbers and zucchinis can be propagated from cuttings as well. To root a cucumber cutting, take a healthy piece from a cucumber plant and root it in moist soil. For zucchinis and summer squashes, take a piece of new, healthy-looking stem just below a leaf node and root it in moist potting mix [3].
Peppers are also easy to root from cuttings, while herbs are very easy to regrow from cuttings as well. The process involves snipping off a piece of stem, removing lower leaves, dipping the cut end in rooting hormone (optional), placing it in moist potting mix or water, and keeping it moist and covered [3].
Cucumber cuttings grow and mature slowly, making them a good option for saving a plant over the winter for transplanting in spring. Rooting a tomato cutting is best done in early summer, while celery can be propagated from plants in your vegetable bed or even from grocery store celery [3].
In summary, several vegetables can be easily propagated by taking cuttings or regrowing from kitchen scraps. This method offers a convenient way to multiply plants, reduce waste, and save money on buying seeds or transplants for next year.
| Vegetable | Propagation Method | Notes | |------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------| | Tomato | Stem cuttings | Root in water or soil; roots in days[1] | | Celery | Bottom cuttings from stalks | Regrow in water; transplant later[2] | | Lettuce/Cabbage | Bottom cuttings | Regrow in water; transplant later[2] | | Microgreens | Seed (not cuttings) | Fast indoor harvest; nutrient-rich[4] |
Happy gardening!
[1] https://www.gardenmyths.com/can-i-root-a-tomato-stem-in-water/ [2] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/celery/celery-regrowth.htm [3] https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/zucchini/zucchini-plant-propagation.htm [4] https://www.almanac.com/plant/microgreens
Gardening enthusiasts might find it fascinating to try propagating celery, lettuce, and tomatoes from home-and-garden sources like kitchen scraps or simple cuttings, much like how microgreens are grown. For instance, tomatoes can root easily in water or soil, while celery and lettuce respond similarly by regenerating in water before transplanting.
