Growing Parsnips from Kitchen Scraps
Introduction
Have you ever wondered if you could regrow vegetables from the scraps you have left over from cooking? It’s a great way to save money and reduce waste. In this article, we’ll focus on growing parsnips from kitchen scraps.
Can You Regrow Parsnips from Their Tops?
Yes, you can regrow parsnips from their tops, but not in the way you might expect. When you plant the tops, they won’t grow a whole new parsnip root. Instead, they will continue to grow new leaves.
Is It Worth It to Regrow Parsnip Tops?
The leaves of parsnips are not particularly tasty, so it’s not worth growing them for food. However, you can grow them for their flowers. Parsnips are biennial plants, which means they flower in their second year. If you harvest your parsnips for the roots, you won’t get to see the flowers. But if you replant the tops, they should eventually bolt and produce attractive yellow blooms that resemble dill flowers.
How to Replant Parsnip Greens
Replanting parsnip greens is very easy. When you’re cooking, simply leave the top half inch or so of the root attached to the leaves. Place the tops root-down in a glass of water. After a few days, small roots should start to grow, and new green shoots should emerge from the top. In about a week or two, you can transplant the parsnip tops to a pot of growing medium or outside to the garden.
Tips for Growing Parsnips from Kitchen Scraps
- Choose healthy parsnips with no signs of disease or damage.
- Wash the parsnips thoroughly before replanting the tops.
- Make sure to leave the top half inch or so of the root attached to the leaves when replanting.
- Place the tops root-down in a glass of water and wait for roots and new shoots to develop.
- Transplant the parsnip tops to a pot of growing medium or outside to the garden when they are a few inches tall.
- Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- Fertilize the parsnips every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
- Harvest the parsnips when they are about 1 inch in diameter.
Growing Parsnips from Kitchen Scraps: A Step-by-Step Guide
Materials:
- Parsnip scraps
- Glass of water
- Pot of growing medium or garden bed
- Shovel or trowel
- Balanced fertilizer
Instructions:
- Choose healthy parsnips with no signs of disease or damage.
- Wash the parsnips thoroughly.
- Cut off the top half inch or so of the root and leave it attached to the leaves.
- Place the parsnip tops root-down in a glass of water.
- Wait for roots and new shoots to develop.
- Transplant the parsnip tops to a pot of growing medium or outside to the garden when they are a few inches tall.
- Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- Fertilize the parsnips every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
- Harvest the parsnips when they are about 1 inch in diameter.
Troubleshooting
- My parsnip tops are not growing roots. Make sure that the tops are getting enough water and sunlight. You can also try adding a rooting hormone to the water.
- My parsnip tops are growing leaves but no roots. This is usually a sign that the tops are not getting enough light. Move them to a sunnier location.
- My parsnip tops are wilting. This is usually a sign that the tops are getting too much water or not enough sunlight. Adjust the watering schedule and move the tops to a sunnier location.
Conclusion
Growing parsnips from kitchen scraps is a great way to save money and reduce waste. It’s also a fun and rewarding project that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
