Hydroponics at Home
Commercial growers have long used this manner of growing for a wide range of crops. Most suggest that you limit your beginning efforts to just a few of the easy crops until you’re familiar with the process. Using hydroponics at home is growing in popularity. Other than indoor hydroponic vegetable crops, you can also grow herbs and ornamentals inside in water. Hydroponic growing is done in special containers, with nutrients added at the appropriate time. Vigorous crops are produced in this manner, but not every crop grows well. Below we’ll list which crops grow most vigorously using this method. Hydroponic crops can grow from seeds, cuttings, or be started with a small plant. Reportedly, most crops grow faster when grown hydroponically than when growing in soil.
Best Crops for Hydroponics
Both warm season and cool season crops can grow hydroponically. Added warmth and light are often needed for warm season crops. Here are the most commonly grown hydroponic veggies:
LettucesTomatoesRadishesSpinachesKales
Herbs are listed as one of the top five best crops to grow with hydroponics. Try the following:
SageSalviaBasilRosemaryMints
Grow lights are a consistent means of getting the necessary light and usually more reliable than using a window. However, a southern window that provides the necessary six hours of sunlight is less expensive. You can grow this way in a well-lighted greenhouse too, as well as growing any time of year. Various substrates are used when growing in this manner. Substrates, instead of soil, hold your plants upright. These may be pumice, vermiculite, coconut fiber, pea gravel, sand, sawdust, and a few others.
