Growing plants in water is actually one of the easiest ways to garden, and it offers a whole bunch of advantages over traditional soil-based growing.
So, what can you grow hydroponically? Depending on the system you have, the list can include veggies, herbs, annual flowers, fruits, and more. In fact, pretty much the only plants that don’t adapt well to hydroponic gardening are root crops and those that need a lot of space to sprawl or climb.
If this is your first foray intohydroponic growing, try one (or more) of these easy-to-grow plants:
Lettuce
Lettuce and other greens, like spinach and kale, may just be the most common vegetable grown in hydroponics. Why? They grow fast in a hydroponic system and are incredibly easy to care for.
Tomatoes
Many types of tomatoes have been grown widely by hydroponic hobbyists and commercial growers. One thing to keep in mind is that tomatoes require quite a bit of light. So be prepared to purchase some grow lights if you want to grow indoors.
Hot Peppers
Hot peppers like the same hydroponic growing conditions as tomatoes—warm temperatures and a lot of light. Two of the most popular hydroponically-grown varieties are jalapeños and habanero peppers.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a common vining plant grown at home and in commercial greenhouses. There are several types and sizes, including thick-skinned American slicers, thin-skinned seedless cukes, and smooth-skinned Lebanese cucumbers that do well hydroponically.
Green Beans
Green beans are one of the most productive and low-maintenance vegetables that can be grown hydroponically. Harvesting can begin after a mere six weeks. After that, you can continue to harvest for three (or more!) months.
Basil
Basil needs a lot of light (read: 12 hours a day), but ultimately thrives in a hydroponic system. Once your plants reach the mature stage, you can harvest and trim weekly for fresh basil all year long.
Strawberries
Strawberries are well suited for hydroponic growing. In fact, these fruits are one the most popular fruits grown in commercial hydroponic production and have been grown in large-scale commercial hydroponic farms for decades.
Tips for Growing Hydroponic Plants
Here are a few other things to consider as you select which plants to grow hydroponically:
- If you’re growing plants for kitchen use, know that hydroponic grow systems can yield a lot, so you may not need as many plants as you usually do.
- If you’re starting your hydroponic garden with young plants or seedlings, be sure to wash soil from roots carefully before transplanting them into your hydroponic system.
- Group plants together that have the same needs. For example, put greens like lettuce and spinach together and plants like tomatoes and peppers together.
- Use H-G Fulvic Food as a foliar spray. H-G Fulvic Food works to increase yield in hydroponically-grown plants by making nutrients more readily available.
What are you growing in your hydroponic system? Head to our Facebook page and let us know—we’d love to hear from you!
Read more: 6 Benefits of Fulvic Acid for Plants
Recipes that Make the Most of Butternut Squash