You
can theoretically grow anything in your hydroponic farm, but we are going to discuss those crops which suit best to the hydroponic farming.
Growing hydroponic vegetables may look a daunting task, but it can be done efficiently by proper knowledge and growing skills.
Here are ten vegetables that you can grow hydroponically:
1. Lettuce
Temperature Required: 7 °C to 21 °C
Optimum pH: 5.6 to 6.2
Many leafy lettuce varieties can grow remarkably well in a hydroponic system. Romaine lettuce is the most nutritious lettuce among all because of its high chlorophyll content. It has large, upright, full-bodied heads, and leaves that are mild and sweet in flavor.
Lettuce has a shallow root system and does not require a large space for growth. It will take about 4-5 weeks of proper nutrition and management to produce a healthy lettuce harvest.
2. Arugula
Temperature Required: 10 °C to 18 °C
Optimum pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Hydroponic Arugula is a delicate texture crop. It has succulent and nutrient-dense leaves. When grown in a controlled environment like in a hydroponic farm, Arugula yields a more consistent harvest.
Arugula has high antioxidant phytochemicals and sulfur-containing compounds known as glucosinolates having detoxifying properties.
3. Kale
Temperature Required: 24 °C to 28 °C
Optimum pH: 5.8 to 6.3
Kale is a cold temperature crop, and its flavor gets improved when provided a cooler environment.
Kale is much nitrogen sensitive than other hydroponic vegetables, and leaf tips burn commonly seen when nitrogen levels are higher than required. It needs a specially made nutrient solution for proper growth.
Kale takes around six weeks to be ready for the harvest. It can regrow if you harvested partially.
4. Tomato
Temperature Required: 14.5 °C to 26 °C
Optimum pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Tomato is among the most popular hydroponic vegetables grown commercially. It is a vine crop, that is why it can be grown vertically with the help of string or wires, utilizing the vertical space of the hydroponic farm.
There are two types of tomato variety, determinate type, and indeterminate type. With proper pruning and support, indeterminate type variety can continue to grow in height and bearing fruits. The determinate tomato varieties are more laborious to prune as they are bushier.
When it comes to market demand, being a versatile vegetable, the tomato will never disappoint you.
5. Mustard Greens
Temperature Required: 15 °C to 24 °C
Optimum pH: 5.6 to 6.7
Mustard greens are a nutritious food to eat, an excellent source of antioxidants, low in calories, rich in fiber and micronutrients. They are also a good source of vitamin C and vitamin K.
Young mustard green leaves have a mild flavor, but as the leaves grow, they develop a considerably rich flavor.
When provided proper nutrition and care, the leaves can grow up to 15 to 18 inches long in around six weeks. You can start harvesting the leaves when they are 6 to 8 inches long.
6. Swiss Chard
Temperature Required: 15 °C to 25 °C
Optimum pH: 5.6 to 6.4
Swiss chard is a delicate texture crop having a rich flavor. Swiss chard seeds sprout in 7-12 days and plants become ready for the harvest in around 30 to 40 days. It regrows after harvesting if harvested partially.
Swiss chard has high vitamin K in its nutrient composition when compared to other plants.
7. Watercress
Temperature Required: 21 °C to 29 °C
Optimum pH: 6.0 to 6.5
Watercress is a semi-aquatic plant that has an edible stem and its leaves projects above the nutrient solution levels.
It is generally eaten raw as a leafy salad. It has a unique peppery taste with a refreshing flavor.
Watercress is more tolerant of nutrient additions physiologically than tomatoes or lettuce. Usually, the plants get harvested when they are 8 to 12 inches long.
8. Spinach
Temperature Required: 18 °C to 21 °C
Optimum pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Spinach is a well-known crop popular for its high iron content.
It can be efficiently grown in a raft system or NFT hydroponic system. Spinach has a shallow root system making it an efficient crop in terms of space.
It takes around 30 to 45 days to get fully matured, and it can regrow after harvesting when harvested partially.
9. Spring Onions
Temperature Required: 18 °C to 24 °C
Optimum pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Spring onions are different from regular onions as they lack a fully developed bulb. It has hollow, tabular green leaves that grow straight out from the bulb.
Spring Onion has a much sweeter and distinct taste than the regular onion.
Plants are harvested by gently pulling out the whole plant from the system, then the bulb and roots are cut down from the plant before packaging.
10. Broccoli
Temperature Required: 12 °C to 18 °C
Optimum pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Broccoli is a cool-weather crop and grows better during winter when you have the optimum temperature inside your hydroponic farm.
Broccoli needs more space to grow as its leaves grow fast, and they can block the light from the other plants. It harvested when the head gets fully developed, by cutting the stem 4 to 5 inches below the head.
Hydroponic farming in India is progressing as the consumers are becoming more aware of the nutrition and about the healthy diet they need for a healthy life.