One of the most tragic things about winter is that all the lush green turns to brown. And unless there's a fresh layer of snow, the world eventually turns into a muddied grey.
Try as I might to bring my plants in-doors I usually fail (I either over-attend or under-serve - such a delicate balance!)
So, when my mother-in-law aka DIY-crazy-life-hacking-wonder-woman told me I could use my old celery hearts to sprout new ones I almost rolled my eyes. Of course you can do that, you can feed 11 people 3 meals a day - you can do anything. (I've even wondered if God just let's her get away with anything she tries because she's tending to so many people). Regardless, I wasn't quite buying that even I aka DIY destructo could pull of this frugal hack.
BUT to my GREAT surprise, it worked! It worked! It worked! Now having just started this a week ago, my growth is too embarrassing to show, so I have to admit the photo above is not mine. It's from a great resource about sprouting your own plants indoors.
It's so low maintenance you cannot fail. Here's what you need to do:
- cut the heel off about an inch from the bottom
- stick a few toothpicks in the side
- fill a glass almost to the top with water
- rest the celery heel with toothpicks on the rim of the glass so that the bottom of the heel is just touching the water
- keep the water at that level
- place on a windowsill/bathroom counter (anywhere you get plenty of light!)
After a week or so, you'll have little celery hearts sprouting from the middle of the heel which is SO very exciting! (Considering all you did was supply a few toothpicks). They also add a warm and GREEN touch to your kitchen (so nice in the cold winter).
Please note! Once your plant starts to sprout always pinch them from the outer areas of the stalk. Once you take from the center is gone the new vegetable plants will wither away.
Much to my surprise, celery is really just the tip of the Iceberg (or should I say Romaine) as far as indoor veggies. Here's a list of other veggies that you can sprout this winter!
Sproutable Veggies: Here's a link to the directions!
- Carrots
- Romaine
- Garlic Shoots
- Cabbage
The one I'm particularly excited about "sprouting" are the carrots! I'm told they look like sea monsters which is oh such an interesting visual.
