Growing Vegetables From Scraps

 CedarCraft Self-Watering Elevated Spruce Planter (21″ x 47″ x 32″H) – The Flexibility of Container Gardening The Convenience of a self-Watering System. Grow Healthier, More Productive Plants.Growing Vegetables From Scraps Used To Be Called A ‘Victory Garden!’

For those of the very elderly, growing vegetables from scraps is nothing new – it’s just what they did ‘back in the day.’

When money is tight, a carefully planned victory garden could keep a household flush in tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, melons, lettuce – basically, any kind of vegetable.

Victory gardens were generally grown during times of crisis, such as wars, or, well pandemics like we face right now with Covid-19 (the Corona virus). For those of us unwilling to stand in lines to go grocery shopping, a little victory garden right outside the porch is the way to go.

As good for the wallet as it is for the bees, growing vegetables from scraps can be a very fun, rewarding hobby for those elderly loved ones who like to garden.

Some vegetables can be grown in water, right on a sunny windowsill (think celery…), although they’ll probably do better in a good quality top soil.

I just planted the ends of the spring onions I used in my salad, along with the bottom of some celery and leeks. My little corner garden will provide me and my family with months of vegetables with very little effort.

I’ve included various links which I think might be helpful for an elderly loved one – I particularly love my little raised bed which is right outside the kitchen door. I just go ‘shopping’ every evening to see what’s ripe!

And, for further information about Growing Vegetables From Scraps, you can click that link right there!

Books On Growing Vegetables From Food Scraps

Everyone can always learn something, no matter what age one is. These books are all great resources and are sure to be cherished during the growing season.

Regrow Your Veggies: Growing Vegetables from Roots, Cuttings, and Scraps (CompanionHouse Books) Sustainable Tips, Troubleshooting, & Directions for Lettuce, Potatoes, Ginger, Scallions, Mango, & MoreVegetable Gardening for Beginners: A Simple Guide to Growing Vegetables at HomeDon’t Throw It, Grow It!: 68 windowsill plants from kitchen scrapsThe Victory Garden: The Essential Companion

Raised Garden Beds Are Perfect For Growing Vegetables From Scraps

To save my arthritic knees, my husband gave me a beautiful raised garden bed that is on our deck. He filled it with the best potting soil and handed me packet upon packet of seeds with which to plant.

As of this writing, it is mostly planted with herbs and arugula (aka ‘rocket’ green which are my favorite) but there’s plenty of space for a few carrots and potatoes.

 Keter Urban Bloomer 12.7 Gallon Raised Garden Bed with Self Watering Planter Box and Drainage Plug, Dark Grey Yaheetech Wooden Raised Elevated Garden Bed Kit with Legs Planter Flower Herb Boxes for Vegetables Flower with Shelf Solid Wood Outdoor/Indoor Glowpear Self-Watering Urban Garden Planter Gro Products 18-EGB2-2436 Elevated Garden Bed, 36 x 24 x 22, Cedar

A Basic Set Of Gardening Tools Is A Great Gift

Along with my beautiful raised bed, John presented me with a beautiful set of gardening tools like those below. Since the raised garden is sort of petite, he selected indoor gardening tools for me but you can click ‘Great Gardening Tools For The Elderly’ to see more of a selection.

 Wrapables A58752 Indoor Gardening Tool Set Yotek Bonsai Tree Growing Kit Succulent Gardening Tools Set of 8 pcs – Include Pruner, Fold Scissors, Mini Rake, Bud, Cleaning Brush & Leaf Trimmer (8pcs) AOKIWO 40 PCS Garden Tools Set Heavy Duty Aluminum Manual Garden kit Outdoor Gardening Gifts Tools Set for Men Women Wesdxc 15 Pieces Succulent Plants Tools, Mini Garden Hand Tools Transplanting Tools Miniature Planting Gardening Tool Set for Indoor Miniature Fairy Garden Plant Care

Garden Soil For Vegetables

Using a top graded garden soil will ensure a nice vegetable crop. I generally buy this at a gardening center but, due to the Corona virus, I prefer to get my garden soil delivered right to my garden!

 Useful Universe Organic Potting Mix Soil for Vegetables, Herbs and Flowers, 8 Quart Miracle-Gro Garden Soil All Purpose for In-Ground Use, 2 cu. ft. Miracle-Gro Raised Bed Soil, 1.5 cu. ft. Miracle-Gro Performance Organics All Purpose Container Mix – Organic and Natural Plant Soil, Feed for Up to 3 Months, For Vegetables, Flowers, and Herbs, Use in Indoor and Outdoor Containers, 1 cu. ft

Vegetable Garden Fertilizers

If you want to succeed in growing vegetables from scraps, a good fertilizer is a must – just following the fertilizing directions carefully so you don’t get an over abundance of green leaves and no fruit!

 Burpee Organic Tomato and Vegetable Granular Plant Food, 4 lbs Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Plant Food Vegetables and Herbs, 2 lb. Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food, 10 lb Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Tomato, Fruit & Vegetable Plant Food, 4.5 lb. Jobe’s Tomato Fertilizer Spikes, 18 Spikes

Grow Potato Plants In A Bag!’

I discovered growing potato plants right in a bag accidentally when a potato fell off the grill tray into some dirt. In a few week? It done sprung! Yep, as an experiment, I let that plant grow and grow until the vine died back. I dug around in the dirt and, voila! Potatoes! Couldn’t be any easier!

 Sfee 2 Pack 10 Gallon Potato Grow Bags, PE Durable Aeration Pots Planters Bag with Handles Access Flap for Garden Farm Vegetable Carrot Onion Tomato Taro Radish Peanut (10 Gallons, Green) Potato Grow Bags with Flap and Handles,3 Pack Vegetable Planter Bag 4/7/10-Gallon Garden Planting Grow Bags Nonwoven Fabric (7-Gallon Green+Brown+Black (3 Pack)) Tvird Potato Grow Bags 2 Pack 10 Gallon Planting Pouch Fabric Pots Premium Breathable Cloth Bags for Potato/Plant Container with Handles and Velcro Window（Green）

Order Live Tomato Plants Online!

Now, before Covid-19 hit, I would never have considered buying live tomato plants online but, now? I much prefer to get the live plants delivered to my door instead of having to shop at garden centers where there might be crowds.

 Clovers Garden Early Girl Tomato Plant – Two (2) Live Plants – Not Seeds, Each 5 Dutch Country Classics Live La Roma Tomato Plant – 3.5 Beefsteak Tomato Plant –Two (2) Live Plants – Not Seeds -Each 5

Vegetable And Herb Seeds

Not all garden plants start as plants – a lot can be started inside in little peat pots that you just pop right into the garden or pot for a balcony.

 Set of 30 Assorted Vegetable & Herb Seeds 30 Varieties Create a Deluxe Garden All Seeds are Heirloom, 100% Non-GMO! by Black Duck Brand 30 Different Varieties Vegetable Seeds, Variety Pack, Survival Seeds, Made in The USA-Heirloom Seeds,Tomato Seeds Beet Seeds, Broccoli Seeds, Lettuce Seeds, Spinach Seeds, Cabbage Seeds, Carrot Seeds Cucumber Seeds, 15 Culinary Herb Seed Vault – Heirloom and Non GMO – 4500 Plus Seeds for Planting for Indoor or Outdoor Herbs Garden, Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Chives, Lavender, Dill, Marjoram, Mint, Rosemary, Thyme