Have you been hearing about hydroponics? Are you curious about it? Or are you contemplating a hydroponic garden for yourself? Maybe you’re wondering what type of plants and vegetables can be grown hydroponically.
what is hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a soilless farming method where plants are grown in water, without the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Plants don’t actually need soil to grow. What they do need are the nutrients in the soil. Hydroponically grown plants get their nutrients from water-based nutrient solutions. It’s also a very efficient farming method because it uses far less land than conventional farms. And, since hydroponic plants are greenhouse-grown, you can farm all year long, regardless of the outdoor weather conditions.
what grows best with hydroponics?
If this is your first experience with hydroponic growing, it will be easier to start with plants that grow fast, have shallow roots, and are low maintenance. Greens, like lettuce, spinach, and kale, do well with hydroponics. Herbs also grow well. You might try basil, mint, oregano, or chives.
Other vegetables that can be grown successfully are tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Heavier ones like tomatoes or cucumbers will need some support. Small, lightweight fruits like strawberries are also a good choice.
Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and turnips are good candidates too but they do require more attention and space. The container or growing medium will need to be deep enough to provide adequate room for their roots to grow.
Finally, there are some vegetables that aren’t the best suited for hydroponics because they need a lot of space. Squash, melons, corn, and pumpkins are larger, heavier, and need space to spread out. If you have limited space, it will probably be a challenge to grow these successfully. Ideally, you’ll want plants that can fit in compact areas efficiently; even stacked vertically. With hydroponics, you can grow fresh produce without the need for a big patch of land!
Sources: The Spruce, SFGate.com
