Have you ever dreamt of having an inexhaustible vegetable garden? Of always having fresh vegetables on hand without having to go shopping again? The good news is that some vegetables lend themselves perfectly to this kind of perpetual cultivation, even if all you have is a windowsill or a small balcony. Here are 7 vegetables you can buy once and grow forever, with simple techniques that are accessible to everyone.
🥬 1. Romaine lettuce - Fresh and always renewed
Keep the core of the lettuce (about 4-5 cm from the base) and place it in a small bowl with a base of water. Within a few days, young leaves will appear in the centre. After ten days or so, you can replant the heart in a pot with potting soil. Water regularly, place the pot in the light, and you'll have lettuce that grows again and again. This also applies to other varieties such as oak leaf lettuce or batavia.
👉 Tip: Cut the leaves as soon as they are 8 to 10 cm long to encourage continuous regrowth.
🌿 2. Ciboule (or green onions) - The tireless aromatic
Don't throw away the white roots of your spring onions! Place them in a glass of water with the roots facing down. In just a few days, the green stems will grow back. Cut them back as soon as they are long and start again. You can grow them in a pot of soil once the roots are well developed for longer-lasting production.
👉 Advantage: fast growing and very low maintenance, perfect for beginners.
🌱 3. Celery stalk - Everlasting foliage
Cut your celery stalk to 5 cm from the base and place it in a shallow container filled with water. Change the water every 2 to 3 days. Within a week, young shoots will appear in the centre. Once visible, plant the heart in the ground, water well and place in the sun. Celery is a little slower to grow but will reward you with crisp new stalks throughout the season.
🧄 4. Garlic - For a double harvest
A single forgotten clove of garlic can become a whole plant. Plant it 2 or 3 cm deep, point upwards. First, you'll see a green, chive-like stalk (called an aillet) emerge, which you can cut and eat. Then, if you leave it in the ground, the bulb will grow and give a complete new head of garlic in a few months.
👉 Gardener's tip: Choose an organic clove, as some industrial varieties are treated not to sprout.
🧅 5. Leek - Amazing regrowth
Keep the base of the leek, between 3 and 5 cm, with the roots if possible. Place it in a bowl of water with the roots submerged. Change the water every 2 days. A new stem will quickly form. You can eat it young (in ‘mini leek’ mode) or replant it for a full vegetable after a few weeks.
🌿 6. Basil (and other fresh herbs) - Simple propagation
Cut a basil stem about 10 cm long, remove the bottom leaves, and place it in a glass of water in the light, without exposing it to direct sunlight. Roots will appear within a week. Replant the stem in a pot to obtain a new plant. This technique also works with mint, thyme or oregano.
👉 Tip: Water basil often, but don't let the water stagnate in the pot. It fears drowned roots.
🥔 7. Potatoes - Prolific production
If you have potatoes that sprout, definitely don't throw them away! Cut them into pieces, each with at least one sprout (or ‘eye’), then leave them to dry for 24 hours. Then plant them in the ground or in a large, deep tub with potting soil. Water regularly, and you'll be able to harvest several kilos a few months later.
👉 Bonus technique: Pull up the soil or mulch as the stems grow to maximise production.
Why adopt these perpetual crops?
Growing your vegetables back means:
- Save money by reducing food purchases.
- Reduce food waste by making the most of leftovers.
- Reconnecting with nature, even from a flat.
- Ensuring better quality food, without chemical treatments.
These simple gestures become lasting reflexes... and tasty ones!