Looking for something to do during the winter months that will make you excited for spring? Try making your own windowsill garden–it’s super easy, fun and you’ll have a head start on your spring garden planting.

Tip: Whenever I buy romaine lettuce, I wash, chop and store it with a paper towel in an airtight container so it will maintain freshness longer. The paper towel absorbs the excess moisture so the lettuce doesn’t get that gross, soggy texture. If it’s already chopped, I’m also more likely to eat it 🙂

Anyway, I never really paid attention to throwing away the base of the lettuce until I read about re-growing it. All you need to do is cut the base about 2-3 inches from the end. Find a bowl or jar and fill it with about 2 inches of water. You don’t want too much water, as it will overpower the base and inhibit growth.

 

A sunny windowsill is the best place to set the container. In a few days, you’ll start to see sprouts of regrowth. And before you know it, you’ll start to see the resemblance of romaine leaves. It’s important to keep an eye on the water–if it gets murky or has debris in it, be sure to change it.

 

As the weeks go by, you’ll start to notice the outside of the base is looking brown–but don’t worry! It just means it’s time to plant the lettuce in soil. Grab a bag of potting soil and plant away! I bought some smaller pots that I had on my windowsill throughout most of the winter, and then moved them outside once the weather got warm. I even transplanted some in my garden, which is awesome because they were already healthy and productive (until my dog dug them up…but that’s another story).

Pictured above, you’ll see I planted celery as well. Celery has a good, solid base just like romaine, so you can follow the same steps.

 

Green onions (chives) are another easy and fun re-growth project. For green onions, you’ll want to use a jar, as they will shoot up quickly. Similar to romaine and celery, cut about an inch or two from the bases (you’ll obviously have more “bases” with green onions). Fill the jar with about an inch of water and set them in the sun. They will grow fast!

Don’t be afraid to mix and match when planting these in pots–I usually have one pot that has all three planted (one of each, you don’t want it too crowded). This way, if you want to keep one pot in the kitchen at all times, you can have access to them all at once. It’s especially helpful if you just need a snip of celery or a garnish of chives.

Tip: This is a great kid-friendly activity that can help teach your kiddos where their food comes from–and give them a deeper appreciation. It’s also just plain fun to watch! 

Has anyone grown anything interesting on their windowsill? I’d love to hear some more gardening ideas!

Now let’s all wish for spring 🙂

xoxo

Chelsea