National Gardening Week is coming up (2nd - 9th May 2022) and we're feeling inspired to try a spot of 'grow your own' this spring.

If you haven’t tried to regrow vegetables from scraps, it is a great activity to try at home. If you don't have a large outdoor space you might be surprised to learn that lots of vegetables can be planted in tubs on a balcony or terrace.

You could even challenge family or friends to a growing competition (children in particular, love this!).

If you aren’t sure where to start, we got some tips from the head chef at our Yorkshire restaurant, The Clevedon at Ben Rhydding:

Potatoes and sweet potatoes

If you have an old potato at the back of the cupboard that’s started sprouting this is perfect. Plant it like a flower bulb, and water it regularly.

Onions, shallots and garlic

These can all be regrown from the roots. When you chop the roots off for cooking, keep hold of them and pop them in some soil to start growing again.

Avocado

These are grown from the pits, so after you’ve enjoyed your avocado, give the pit a clean, peel off the outer layer and put three to four toothpicks into the top of the pit. Using the toothpicks for support, place the pit into a jar and fill it with water. Once the root starts to grow and is well established, then plant into soil.

Root vegetables

For all root vegetables cut just below the stem, leaving about ½ an inch of the root vegetable attached. Soak the vegetable in water until it starts to root and then they can be planted in soil.

Other fruit and veg you can regrow from scraps include carrots, celery, romaine, lemons and limes, blueberries and more.

There are some great examples on Greenmatters.com

GROWING FRESH VEG

Potatoes and sweet potatoes

Onions, shallots and garlic

Avocado

Root vegetables

Read more tasty stories on our food blog