Growing vegetables in a hydroponic system is a great way to enjoy the benefits of the growing medium.
But, what can you grow in a hydroponic system? How do you choose the right plants for your hydroponic system? Read on for some tips.
You can use hydroponics to grow vegetables that are both easy to grow and nutritious. Listed below are some of the best hydroponic plants.
In this post, we will cover:
Benefits of Hydroponics for Growing Vegetables
In addition to the benefits of hydroponics for growing vegetables, these plants also have an efficient uptake of nutrients, which reduces the amount of fertilizers needed and accelerates harvest time.
Hydroponically-grown plants do not need to develop a large root system, which means that they can focus their energy on growing beautiful foliage and fruits. Hydroponics also has fewer environmental impacts, such as avoiding soil depletion.
With the rapid increase in food production, water consumption is at a premium. Conventional farming requires a large amount of land to produce a single crop.
Hydroponics uses water and a nutrient-rich solution to grow vegetables. This method can even be used in areas with waterlogged soil or limited soil. The method also uses a fraction of the water normally required by conventional farming methods.
Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and lettuce grow well in hydroponic systems. These plants also contain phyto nutrients, which are compounds that have health-promoting and disease-fighting properties.
The vitamins A, C, and K found in spinach help the body digest and fight ageing. Despite being low in calories, they are rich in essential nutrients such as iron and zinc. This means that hydroponic systems can be used almost anywhere.
What can not be grown hydroponically?
When growing your own hydroponic vegetables, you have a few choices. Kale, a popular culinary herb, is an excellent choice. There are several varieties, including sweet basil, lemon basil, lettuce-leaf basil, cinnamon basil, and dill.
You can also grow rosemary, which will require a little longer to mature than basil but will provide you with delicious flavor for years. Root crops are also the easiest to grow hydroponically.
While strawberries are the easiest to grow hydroponically, many other fruits and vegetables can be grown this way as well. Grapes are excellent crops for hydroponic systems, and are suitable for both table grapes and wine making.
Almost all vegetables can be grown hydroponically, from cucumbers to melons. Bananas are another popular choice, and the Super Dwarf Cavendish variety produces a small dessert banana.
Cucumbers are another common vining vegetable. Hydroponic greenhouses and home gardeners alike benefit from the fast growth and high yields.
Cucumbers come in a variety of sizes, from the thick-skinned American slicer to seedless European varieties.
Cucumbers can be grown any time of year, as well. Healthy cucumbers take about two months to mature and will provide fresh cucumbers for two to three months.
Choose easy-to-grow plants
For a low-maintenance, high-yield crop, you can try cucumbers. They grow quickly and yield well, and require little care, though they may need trellis or a deep planter to be productive.
Cucumbers prefer a warm climate and a pH level of 5.5 to 6.0. If you want to grow them indoors, you may need a grow light.
Lettuce, dill, and cilantro are all great choices for hydroponics. These plants grow rapidly and don’t require much care or maintenance. They are most successful in a bucket system and require a trellis to provide support.
You won’t need to worry about pH balance, as their roots are shallow and they require regular nutrient solution changes.
To make sure your hydroponic garden is not too crowded, try to choose easy-to-grow plants. Larger plants will need more space and may be difficult to grow. Don’t overcrowd your plants – it will produce a poor yield. Instead, select hearty, fast-growing plants.
Bush beans will grow in a hydroponic system with less maintenance and higher yield than pole beans. Tomatoes will grow faster than their traditional counterparts, and are the most popular hydroponic plants.
Best plants for hydroponic systems
Orchids are a great choice for hydroponic systems, as they naturally grow in water without soil. In nature, they latch on to trees, rocks, or air roots and absorb water from the rain.
This same environment is replicable in a hydroponics farm. Orchids grow best in a hydroponic system, where air is constantly circulated around the roots. They are productive and healthy.
Despite their high price, strawberries are easy to grow and incredibly delicious. They are also often the most expensive fruits at the grocery store, so if you enjoy eating strawberries, grow your own strawberries and save money.
Water-loving fruits like bananas, grapes, and raspberries are also great candidates for hydroponics. Other water-loving plants are herbs, tomatoes, and peppers.
Carnations and chrysanthemums are also good options for hydroponic gardens. Vegetables are a popular choice for personal consumption.
Basil is another excellent choice for hydroponic systems. You can start basil from seeds or cuttings and it will grow quickly. Basil will reach harvestable size in as little as 28 days in a hydroponic system.
However, some basil varieties do better than others in water, so choose the ones that thrive best in water. Faster growing varieties yield higher yields. This means a faster hydroponic garden, and a larger harvest.
Lettuce
If you are growing lettuce in a hydroponic system, you may be wondering how to grow it. The answer is easy – you can simply plant lettuce seeds in a hydroponic system.
Lettuce plants need water and a nutrient package with a complete nutrient profile. You can also harvest the leaves when they are young, which will increase their yield and value. Harvesting lettuce leaves is also easy – you can simply pick the outer leaves of the plants and leave the inner ones.
The most important thing to keep in mind about growing lettuce in a hydroponic system is its pH. It requires a slightly acidic pH, so you will need to use a nutrient formula specifically for lettuce.
In addition, lettuce requires between 10 to 14 hours of light each day. Some growers use a 12/12 cycle. Lettuce will grow best in cool temperatures and should be grown in a temperature that is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
Spinach
If you want to grow spinach in a hydroponic system, you’ve come to the right place. This popular leafy green grows quickly and uses much less water than a traditional in-ground garden.
Starting plants from seeds in a hydroponic system only takes a week or two. The temperature of the growing medium should be between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re growing spinach indoors, keep in mind that low temperatures will cause the growth process to be slow.
Growing spinach in a hydroponic system is easy and involves mixing a soilless mix with rockwool or vermiculite. The spinach plant requires ample light and regular fertilization, so you’ll need to choose the right amount.
The water content is based on the size of the container. A good way to know the amount of moisture is to check the soil moisture level before planting.
Broccoli
While hydroponic broccoli grows well in a range of pH levels, you can expect to see dips or spikes in the pH level from time to time.
To avoid this problem, carefully follow the instructions on your hydroponics reservoir and make sure it contains the right amount of nutrients. You should check the pH levels twice a day.
Ideally, the pH level should be between 5.5 and 6.5. While slight fluctuations in pH will not harm your crop, too much or too little pH can cause nutrient lock. EC is a more accurate measurement and is also recommended for broccoli.
When choosing a variety, remember that broccoli plants need a minimum of 12 to 16 inches of space to grow. Plants that are too close together will result in reduced head size and fewer produce.
A key challenge in growing broccoli hydroponically is keeping the ideal temperature, which is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, indoor gardening is recommended.
However, outdoor growing is also possible. While indoors, broccoli can also be grown in soil, so make sure that the soil is a good choice.
Bell peppers
The benefits of hydroponic gardening are many, and growing bell peppers is one of them. This vegetable can grow up to 50 pounds per plant, depending on its variety and water requirements.
The water used should contain all the nutrients that peppers need to grow properly. Water should also be replaced every two weeks to avoid the growth of harmful bacteria. In hydroponics, water and nutrients are delivered directly to the plant’s roots, eliminating the need for additional soil surface and absorption of nutrients.
Growing bell peppers is a breeze with hydroponics. The plants need plenty of space to grow, and you should space them at least 18 inches apart.
As the pepper plants grow, you may need to train them to produce top-heavy fruits. Once they reach a certain size, prune them to encourage new shoots and prevent overgrowth.
If you’re short on space, you may want to start with only one pepper plant at first, but you can increase the number as the plants grow.