What's Even Better Than Composting? Seeds from Your Kitchen
Have you ever sprouted an avocado pit in a cup of water on your kitchen windowsill? For many of us, this is a first step in exploring the world of science. It's a fun and satisfying way to awaken your inner gardener.
I had fun reading a recent NYT article, Seeds Straight From Your Fridge, which dallies with the idea of using seeds, pits, and even dried fruits from the cupboard as a source of generating household plants and edible crops.
The article's author was inspired by 1977's Don’t Throw It, Grow It Book of Houseplants, which introduced readers to dozens of seeds found in the pantry that could be grown indoors. He experimented with spices, including nutmeg, mustard seed, poppy seed and cardamom. He also tried out dried beans and fruits, including figs, dates, red beans and chickpeas. And he diverted remains of produce destined for the compost bin, including sweet potato, grapefruit and ginger.
These experiments were met with some failure, some success. A lot of the failures resulted not from the age of the food items, but from their processing for shelf stability. Freezing, sterilization, steam heating, and irradiation will pretty much take the regeneration possibilities out of the picture for any seed.
The author did have gratifying results with sprouting alfalfa, mustard seed and poppies,the latter two of which he said " sprouted as soft and thick as a flokati." Dried beans, as in Jack and the Beanstalk, also grew impressively, These included lentils, red beans and chick peas.
My 3rd grader is learning some plant biology now in school and has brought home a kitchen experiment of her own-- germinating, or sprouting, three different legumes. In a very low-tech contraption-- a little plastic bag with a moistened towel in it-- she is sprouting a lima bean, a garbanzo, and a sunflower seed. It's been an exciting experiment for her-- these beans sprout quickly! She's got grand plans for growing our own beans just outside the front door, where we already have our immortal supply of scallions growing.
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Kim Gamble
kmbearden
Spectrum Voice
Susie Lindau
Lauren B. Davis
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Comments
It is not really a kitchen scrap, but I love to plant supermarket garlic cloves...the bulbs that grow for me are usually smaller than the original parent, but sooo tasty!
leon, thanks for coming by!
rated
paul, I can always count on you for interesting tips. Before reading that article, I had never even thought of sprouting my pantry seeds, but what a great idea.
Pineapple (I twist off the top and peel back a few of the bottom leaves to expose roots,) avocados, sweet potato vines and carrot top fronds are fun to grow, without expectation of a harvest. Although sometimes the plants can grow for years. I also have some alfalfa sprouting seeds that I might toss out to see if they're still viable. Fun pastime. :) Rated
Maybe I need better dirt.
But I love fresh garlic sprouts!
You have such an important point . EVERY child should have the gift of being able to grow some food.
loveinmexico, for the purpose of clearing customs, good thing you have not used your/your husband's names!
carolinemarie, thanks for stopping by. I have no green thumb either, but this is so easy, a kid can do it:)
theresa, I know you are a gardener, so thank you for your great ideas.
librarienne, let me know how they turn out!
Owl, wow, tomatoes!
Bell, I think your animal rescue work more than makes up for your lack of plant-rearing!
Joanie, nice to see you here.
Larry, chia pets!
mumble, thanks for stopping by. I will check out your archives.
Grace, we have the same "problem" with our plum trees. I need to get them pruned-- the issue is that they are too tall to pick the fruit so it all falls down.
xenonlit, thanks for stopping by! I agree-- at the least, to understand where food comes from.
Robin, nice to see you! It's always good to play in the dirt once in a while.
♥R
thanks, Linda.