How to regrow green onions, scallions and spring onions from kitchen scraps

Green onions, scallions and spring onions give dishes a little extra oomph, and are a staple if you’re into Asian cooking.

Like most people, I used to just discard the roots of my green onions. Little did I know, I was literally throwing food away!

Did you know that you could regrow green onions in water? That means that for every green onion you buy, you can actually get several times the amount of food out of it with minimal effort and zero skill.

This method also works for scallions and spring onions, which are basically the same plant at different stages of growth.

Here’s how to do it.

Step 1:

When you’re ready to use the green onions, cut off the green part to use, leaving the white part and roots behind.

Step 2:

Put the roots in a jar of water, making sure that the top part of the plant is not submerged.

Step 3:

Put the green onions in a sunny spot by the window or on the balcony and wait for them to grow. You should start to see the formation of green shoots within a day or two. With enough sunlight, your green onions can grow to their original height in about 2 weeks.

Step 4:

Change the water every day so it doesn’t get murky.

Step 5:

Hungry for green onions? Harvest them and regrow the ends once again! It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Step 6:

(Optional) To give your green onions a chance to regrow indefinitely, you will have to plant them in soil. If you’re doing this indoors, make sure the container they’re in has holes at the bottom so excess moisture can drain. Over the long term they’ll have to be fertilised—this can be done with compost.

Why aren’t your green onions growing? Here are some possible factors.

1) They are not getting enough sunlight.

2) You’ve already regrown them several times. Green onions cannot be regrown indefinitely in water as they eventually run out of nutrients. To make them last longer you’ll have to replant them in soil.

3) Sometimes it’s just not meant to be. With every bunch of green onions you buy at the store, a few just won’t grow. Some start to grow up to a certain point and then stop. To give your store-bought green onions the best chances of growing, keep their roots submerged in a glass of water in the fridge before use.