Do you want to know how to grow celery from kitchen scraps? You can begin with something as simple as repurposing a common kitchen scrap. I’ll demonstrate how easy it is to regrow Celery from the root end. It’s an edible DIY that even city dwellers can do, and it’s a great way to teach kids about food.
The best reason to appreciate this crunchy vegetable is that it can be grown from scraps! (A green thumb isn’t required.) Here’s a complete process guide to helping you get started:
1. Remove the end of the rope.
Cut the root end of a bunch of Celery about 2 inches long. Additional information is optional. Place four toothpicks around the Celery, evenly spaced, about 12 inches from the bottom. Cut off the bottom 2 inches of the stalk at the base when you’re about to start cooking. (This is the portion you’re not going to eat.)
2. Submerge in water
In a shallow glass bowl or cup, place the Celery. Fill with enough water to submerge the root end an inch. Place the bowl or container in a location where it will receive plenty of natural light for several hours per day. I put my bowl near an east-facing kitchen window so that it wouldn’t get too hot in the middle of the day. Every couple of days, change the water to ensure the celery root end is still submerged. (The toothpicks on the sides prevent the Celery from hitting the bowl’s bottom.)
After about a week, depending on the growth rate of your plant, it should be able to plant in soil. If the weather is excellent and the conditions are favourable, you can use a container or replant directly into your yard. Check to see if the tiny fresh leaves are sticking above the surface.
Like any other plant, Celery will continue to grow in the presence of sunlight and water. It needs damp soil but not excessively wet soil.
3. Keep an eye on it as it grows
You can see tiny leaves emerging from the very center of the top after a few days. Small stalks and leaves, and tiny roots can occur around the base in about a week. The cut stalks near the bottom can begin to deteriorate and turn brown. Don’t be alarmed; this is entirely natural. However, if the Celery is left in water for too long, the outer stalks will die, so it’s best to plant it in a pot before this happens.
4. Soil replanting
You can plant the Celery either in potting soil or directly into your garden when the new roots are about an inch long. If you’re going to use potting soil, make sure it’s pesticide-free and ideal for vegetables and herbs. Make a deep and wide hole large enough to carry the plant from the root to the cut end. Make sure there’s no air pocket under the Celery’s root end until planting it in the soil. Fill in and tamp the surrounding soil gently so that a small portion of the cut end, as well as all of the growing leaves and stalks, are visible above the ground. Maintain moist but not wet soil. Celery grows best in cool weather and fertile soil, so give it some shade during the flaming part of the day and feed it to keep it nourished. Growing Celery in your garden is easy with our advice.
5. Bring Sun & Water
In a shallow bowl of warm water, position the foundation. The rough side should be facing down, and the stalk side should be facing up. Ensure the bottom inch of the foundation is fully immersed in water and the top is above it. It’s a delicate juggling act, and toothpicks can help. Place the celery bowl by a window or on a sunny windowsill. Replace the water every few days or so.
6. Have fun with it!
It will take about four months to mature, after which it will be ready to harvest. So, what do you want to do with this Celery that you’ve developed yourself? In this Chicken Noodle Soup, you might use a stalk or two, but the possibilities are truly limitless.