14 Fruits And Vegetables You Can Grow In Glass Jars

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Your home might already be dotted with beautiful houseplants you can grow in glass jars and bottles. But what if your greenery could also feed you? You may be surprised at how many fruits and vegetables can be grown in mason jars or glass bowls — and some of them might even be ready to cook or eat in just days.

Maybe you're looking for ways to make the most out of your studio apartment despite its lack of green space, or you might just be too swamped to put in all the time and energy it takes to maintain a thriving outdoor garden. Whatever your reason, this style of gardening adds both beauty and purpose to your space. Gorgeous glass jars and growing greens pull rooms together and make them feel inviting — and if you start growing enough of your favorite fruits and vegetables, your grocery list can get shorter, too. From leafy greens like arugula to tropical fruits like pineapple, check out some of the most delicious, nutrient-dense plants you can grow right on your windowsill.

You might remember a pandemic moment when everyone was growing green onions from scraps. We may not be quarantined any longer, but there's no reason to stop keeping some scallion scraps growing in your space. Just chop up a bunch from the store, just above the point where the green part starts to separate into a few different pieces. Stick them in a glass cup or jar with enough water to cover the scallion roots. Change out the water when it gets foggy, watch them grow, and then chop them up for a delicious topping to eggs, soups, stir-frys, and more.

Fancy a nice crunchy stalk of celery every once in a while? Regrow some from an existing stalk so you can always have it at the ready. Next time you have a head of celery, chop about two inches off the root end of the bunch, and place that base in a shallow glass jar or bowl. Keep the end submerged, and change out the water every couple of days or whenever it starts to look too foggy. You should start to see stalks and leaves appear – you can eat them, or plant the whole thing into a pot or your garden.

With tools like arugula seeds, a pH meter, and an amber glass jar (the color prevents algae growth), you can grow the super-tasty green in an indoor hydroponic garden. The process of using hydroponics is a little more complex and time-consuming than some of the other propagation or regrowth methods we've gathered here. But you might find that it's all worth it, once you can always grab a handful of this peppery green for a fresh salad.

Broccoli is a powerhouse, but don't forget about the humble sprouts the plant can make, too! These grow easily and are loaded with nutrients. Ready to grow your own? Just get a mason jar and about three tablespoons of broccoli sprout seeds. Soak them in water, rinse the sprouts, and change out that water over the next couple of days. Then, get ready to make sandwiches, eggs, tacos, or salads a whole lot more delicious!

You're either a garlic person or you're not — and when you're a garlic person, you know you can never have enough on hand. Add to your stash by growing garlic right in your kitchen. Next time you see a piece of sprouting garlic at the store, stick it in a glass jar with a hint of water, changing out the water if it becomes too cloudy after a few days. Once it grows more roots, you can transfer it to a bigger pot with soil to keep your supply steady.

Like other sprouts, radish sprouts are super nutrient-dense and grow quickly and easily. But unlike others, they've got a bit more of a peppery bite, making them an extra delicious addition to your favorite salads and sandwiches. It's the same method as other varieties, too — you can just let the seeds soak in water in a mason jar, change out the water periodically, and wait to see them grow. Hot tip: an Elementi Sprouting Lid for Mason Jars makes rinsing and draining the water much easier!

Romaine lettuce is super versatile, adding the ideal crunch to everything from a Caesar salad to a steak sandwich wrap. It's also surprisingly easy to regrow. Just keep about a two-inch piece of the base of a head of romaine in a little water in a glass jar or mug, and watch as leaves quickly grow. It's also a relatively easy one to grow via hydroponics, so it could be a great starter plant if you've been curious about starting your own hydroponic garden.

With just a pineapple and a glass jar, you can start propagating the sweet and tangy fruit. Lop the top off the fruit just below the green part, let it dry out, and put it in a glass jar with enough water to cover the bottom. When roots start to form, you can move it to the soil. Outdoor growing will work in tropical climates, but in cooler zones, keep it indoors with tons of light and water. Remember that pineapple can take more than a year to grow into an edible treat, but it looks pretty fabulous as a houseplant in the meantime.

If you eventually want to plant sweet potatoes in your garden, you can give them a head start in your house. Stick some toothpicks in a sweet potato to keep it upright in a mason jar, and submerge the more tapered end in some water. Eventually, sprouts and roots should emerge, at which point you can remove those sprouts and prepare them for outdoor growth.

It's not just the orange part of the carrot that deserves your love! The green tops of carrots have an herbal, earthy punch, making them excellent additions to sauces like pestos and chimichurris. And as long as you've got a sunny windowsill and a carrot with at least part of the green stem attached to its top, you can regrow them in a shallow glass jar or bowl in your kitchen. Since carrots are often a favorite veggie of kids and the greens start growing within days, this is a fun family project that can teach little ones about appreciating the entire plant.

It is possible to start growing strawberries in a glass jar at home. But due to the level of care required, it's easiest to get started with a kit. A Back to the Roots Organic Strawberry Grow Kit, for example, lets you get started any time of the year — and all you have to do is add water. It'd make a nice gift for kids (or for any strawberry lover in your life who misses out on fresh summer berries during the chillier months).

If you have dried peas, a mason jar, and some cheesecloth, you're ready to get started growing your very own pea shoots. After a few days soaking in water (with a couple of quick rinses a day), you'll start to see sprouts appear. They've got a mild flavor but a bit of a crunch compared to other sprouts, which makes them a fun addition to salads and wraps. Plus, they're packed with vitamin C, giving your immune system a nice little boost!

This is another leafy green you can regrow using scraps. Put the base of a head of bok choy with the leaves cut off in a shallow glass jar or bowl. Give it enough water so that the bottom of the base is covered, and set it in sunlight. You'll see some leaves grow that you can harvest, and you can also take some of the new roots that will grow on the bottom of the head to plant in soil. The mild, grassy green is fantastic in soups, stir-frys, or just sauteed all on its own.

Love to chow down on a meal that brings the heat? Make it happen with your own homegrown hot peppers. This can be done in your home or a greenhouse with a large mason jar filled with peat pellets, but you do have to use hydroponic methods to get these to thrive, so it's a bigger undertaking for the deliciously spicy payout.