Growing lettuce and more from nothing but leftovers is easy. Here's how...

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last updated 27 May 2020

Looking for some lockdown entertainment that doesn't involve baking, working out or crafts? Yep, we are a tad tired of being productive all the time too, which is why this week's Real Homes Show couldn't have come at a better time. We've got a very handy two-minute guide to growing your own salad basics, including how to grow lettuce, celery and tomatoes, using nothing but leftovers – genius! Watch the video and then check out the simple step-by-step guide below.

For more garden ideas and grow your own inspiration, check out our hub.

Check out our full guide to fruit and vegetables you can grow from scraps.

1. Growing lettuce from scraps

Instead of throwing out leftover lettuce leaves, simply place them in a bowl with a bit of water in the bottom. I like to keep old jars or cut the tops off plastic drinks bottles for this. Keep the bowl somewhere that gets plenty sunlight and after three or four days, you’ll notice roots beginning to appear along with new leaves. When this happens you can move your lettuce to soil. Plant in a sunny spot in rich soil so that you just cover the roots. You can pinch off the outer leaves and eat them as the lettuce grows, or wait for them to reach six to eight inches tall.

2. Grow your own celery from leftovers

Celery is one of the easiest foods to grow from leftovers. Just cut off the bottom of your celery and lay it in a bowl with some warm water in the bottom. Keep the bowl in direct sunlight and after about a week, you will begin to see the leaves thickening and growing along the base. When this happens, you can plant your celery in a sunny spot. Again, make sure the roots are covered in soil and water regularly until its big enough to eat.

3. Plant your own tomatoes from scraps

Tomatoes can be grown by saving some seeds, rinsing them and allowing them to dry. Plant indoors in rich potting soil and water regularly until the shoots are a few inches high, then move them outdoors. During cold weather you can grow tomatoes indoors – just keep them in an area that gets lots of sun and water a few times each week.

Here's our guide to planting your own kitchen garden
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Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.