You can grow some of the store-bought Asian vegetables. Here are the ones I have grown: 1- lemon Grass: Get the ones with a knokle/clump at the end. Cut it to about 14 inches (throw away the top part), put it in water, keep it in your kitchen, wher it gets ligth. When you see small roots growing, plant them in garden or in a 16" pot, and keep them watered and watch them grow. 2- Chinese celery They usually come with roots. Pick the ones that are fresh and have good roots intact. cut all big leaves off, leaving only the ones in the center. Like Lemon Grass, put them in water and keep them in your kitchen (window sill, indirect sun) When new roots start growing, plant them in garden. 3- Thai basil Pick the freshest one you can find. Pinch all big leaves, leaving only some tiny ones. Treat them just like celery/lemon Grass. 4- Shiso Same as Basils. But leave more leaves on. As I have said, I am speaking of my experience and those are now growing in my garden. O" I have also rooted and planted mints the same way. I am sure there are some other, that I was not interested in growing them.

Six months ago I took some grocery store ginger with a bud and planted it in a pot. I now have a beautiful 3-foot high plant. I'm wondering about winter. If I keep the plant in a pot, and bring it indoors over the winter, is it likely to last more than a few years? (I am NOT interested in harvesting the root.) That is, when the root develops, does the plant eventually die naturally? Or does it start to put out new shoots? If I keep it outside in the 8b winter, is it likely to survive? What air temperatures can it endure? I understand I at least need to keep the roots from freezing. I understand that if it dies back, it may or may not come back the next year. So I'm reluctant to let it do that. I guess I would like some cultivation guidelines for those who want it as a decorative plant, and not to harvest roots.

I started a thread several years ago regarding TropicalÂs on the cheap and someone made the suggestion to go to the grocery store for some tropicals. I went to several grocery stores in my area and found the taro at Brookshires a smaller chain grocery in East Texas. I couldn't believe they had them! Bought the taro and a pineapple and a papaya. They grew great! Except for the papaya. I had to move after everything started growing. Still have my pineapple though. It comes in, in the winter but has been the most neglected plant we own at times and still keeps growing and itÂs 3 years old now maybe 4. IÂm starting another tropical garden this year and plan to get some of my plants at the grocery it works great.

Loved your photos, getting spring fever and it's only January!