Regrowing celery from scraps is an easy and rewarding way to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce, and it can be done indoors with just a few simple steps. Whether you have a garden or not, you can regrow celery in water and then transplant it to soil, all in containers. Here’s your step-by-step guide to regrowing celery at home.
Materials Needed:
- Fresh Celery: Purchase a bunch of celery from the store, ensuring it has healthy, crisp stalks.
- Containers: Choose containers with drainage holes. You will need one for water and one for soil.
- Water: Use clean, room temperature water for the water stage.
- Potting Mix: Opt for well-draining potting mix when transferring to soil.
- Sunlight: Find a sunny spot in your home where the celery can receive adequate sunlight.
Step 1: Harvesting and Preparing Celery Scraps
- Cut the Celery: Trim the celery stalks, leaving about 2 inches of the base. This is where new growth will occur.
- Remove Outer Layers: Peel away any outer layers of the celery base that may hinder regrowth.
Step 2: Water Regrowth
- Place in Water: Submerge the celery base in a container with enough water to cover the cut end.
- Change Water Regularly: Change the water every 2-3 days to keep it fresh and help the celery thrive.
- Wait for Growth: Within 1-2 weeks, you should begin to see new green leaves sprouting from the center of the celery base.
Step 3: Transplanting to Soil
- Prepare Container: Once the celery has grown new leaves, prepare a container with well-draining potting mix.
- Plant the Celery: Gently transfer the celery from the water container to the soil, burying the base enough to cover the roots.
- Water and Sunlight: Water the soil lightly and place the container in a sunny location, ensuring the celery gets at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
- Maintain Moisture: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Celery prefers damp conditions.
Step 4: Care and Harvest
- Fertilize (Optional): If desired, use a balanced fertilizer to encourage healthy growth. Follow the instructions on the package.
- Monitor Growth: Watch your celery plant grow. As it matures, you can start harvesting the outer stalks.
- Continuous Harvesting: Celery is a “cut-and-come-again” plant, meaning you can harvest the outer stalks as needed, allowing the inner ones to continue growing.
By following these simple steps, you can enjoy fresh, homegrown celery year-round, even without a garden. It’s a sustainable and cost-effective way to always have celery on hand for cooking or snacking. Happy regrowing!