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Did you know you can grow green onions from the cut ends of a bunch of scallions?
I didn’t either, but it works brilliantly! Even if you think you have a brown thumb, this is going to work for you.
I might never have to buy scallions again.
Instead of calling ourselves Kitchen Gardeners, we might have to call ourselves Grocery Gardeners!
It’s a simple trick.
1. Buy a bunch or scallions (organic preferred).
2. Whack the root end off. Leave oh…1 1/2-2 inches or so. Use the top ends for your recipe.
3. Grab them and…
4. …plunk the roots into a vase or glass of clean water. Put them in a window that has daylight.
5. Put a note on them so you know when you started them. Why? Because it’s fun to see how long it takes. They will begin growing immediately. You’ll get up one morning and swear they grew an inch overnight! (Not unlike your children in that regard 
) Please change out the water when it begins to look cloudy or murky.
6. These took only only 13-15 days to get to their full-size former height. I plan to cut them and attempt another regeneration. I wonder how many bunches of scallions I can grow from the original bunch? I will report back when I know how many consecutive times it works.
Note: I am indebted to the charming blogger Sumptuous Spoonfuls for the initial idea. You can see her post on it here, in case you don’t believe me that it worked, because she did it, too! But I am pretty much a “show me” kind of gal, so I need to prove things to myself before I believe or recommend them.
Now go write “organic scallions” on your
shopping list, and you try it, too!
Send me a photo of your
“kitchen window scallions,”
and I’ll post it!
Gallery of Grocery Gardeners:
This one is from Kim at Rustic Garden Bistro! She’s clearly an overachiever with several glasses full!
Welcome to my kitchen, where the oven is always on, and the fridge is packed with delectables! 
[...] these little onions and as it turns out, no soil is even needed! Dorothy, a Kitchen Gardener, from Shockingly Delicious explains that all you need is a jar, some, water and the neglected part of your green onions. [...]
I have done this inside (during the winter) and found the oniony smell to be a little too much. But seeing this post (via Punk Domestics) made me think that summertime is a good time to try this again — I can leave them on the screened porch! Thanks for the re-inspiration.
Wow! Your green onions grew pretty quickly. I’m seeing a bit of growth on mine but I’m happy to hear that they’ll be full sized within two weeks. Good idea on putting a “started on” note. How many times have you been able to regrow the onions?
Vicky,
I have gotten 2 full growths out of a cutting. In other words, I cut them and plunked in the water, they grew, I cut them and plunked again, and they regrew and I used the whole thing that time.
I love it when an old cookbook pro likes me goes to a blog and learns something new and useful. Brava!
Rick,
Happy to be of service! This really is a neat trick.
Wow! I am getting my fingers wet in this area and this would be a perfect beginning. Thanks for the brilliant idea and it is so simple.
This is genius. I love it and am going to try it today. This is also going to be a fun project for my grandchildren the next time they visit!!!
Grow green onions from cuttings! What a fun idea!
Saw this on Pinterest! I’m so trying this!!
OMGoodness! I just read Kim’s comment about lemongrass! I have a huge “crop” out by my patio, but am thrilled to hear about it anyway… COOL! Thanks again
YES! I love it too… enough to testify
I first heard about it from Ann (Sumptuous Spoonfuls) and have a glass on my kitchen windowsill right now about ready to be harvested! Thanks!
You can plant the ends in dirt too, but it takes longer – love your idea!
will definitely try this out! http://t.co/PSdf4mEk
Woah! So simple, it’s brilliant!
I wonder what other veggies that this will work for?
Awesome tip! Thanks for the post about it
Cool little garden trick – Kitchen Gardener: Grow Green Onions From Cuttings!
Great minds!
After the kitchen remodel, we downsized from TWO full-sized refrigerators to ONE. I know, horrendous. (And yes, we used to have his and hers refrigerators.) So now, I store as much as I can “out” of the fridge. Some time ago, I needed the green parts of the green onion for something… and plunked the whites into a glass of water. I left it on the counter. IT GREW! So I planted it outside, and now have scallions whenever I want them. And I’m always incubating more on the windowsill… so I have an endless supply.
[K]
P.S. This works with lemongrass, too.
Kim,
Good to know about lemongrass. I must try that, because I have a hard time finding it.
Amazing! I have to try this!
I found i could only do it once before it got nasty
Laura,
Interesting! I will have to record how many “crops” I get out of my original bunch. Stay tuned! I do know you have to change the water *before* it gets funky.