Help! I Need School Lunch Tips!

Now that our kids are grown and out of the house, buying and cooking for two is our latest culinary challenge. Can you tell us whether garlic, ginger, and green onions can be kept fresh by poking them into a small flower pot full of good quality potting mix?

I'm thinking they might grow a little, or at least stay plump rather than drying out. Do you know if that is safe and whether it works?

Patricia P. Watt

Hi Patricia,

I think I'd try freezing garlic, ginger, and green onions before I'd plant them in potting soil. You could mash your garlic and put it in a jar. Cover with oil and freeze. The oil won't freeze, and the garlic will stay potent. Just scoop out the desired amount. Alternatively, just freeze the entire bulb and break off cloves as needed.

With ginger, I'd place the root in a ziploc and freeze, grating as needed.

As for green onions, I think they'd stay fresh for up to 4-5 days, like herbs do, if set in a jar of water (just to cover the bulbs) set in the refrigerator. You could also chop them and freeze in a ziploc to pull out as needed.

If you'd like to grow green onions indoors, buy some seeds or sets and plant in the potting soil. You can also plant garlic, but you'd need to let it mature before harvesting.

Hope this helps,

Desi @ DVO