More and more consumers are becoming aware of the food they eat and where it comes from. They are shifting to healthier and more environmentally friendly dietary alternatives. Among them, hydroponic vegetables are quickly gaining traction and becoming popular among individuals who want to consume fresh and nutritious food all year.
As a result, many farmers are already including hydroponically grown vegetables in their crops. Many people from non-agricultural backgrounds are using hydroponics to produce fruits and vegetables in their apartments, offices, warehouses, and other otherwise underused locations. If you're just getting started in the amazing world of alternative farming, here are some vegetables you can produce hydroponically.
Lettuce
The perfect ingredient for fresh salads and crisp sandwiches, lettuce is popular among beginners because of its ease of cultivation.
While the development of other hydroponic vegetables varies depending on the precise mix of conditions in which they are cultivated, lettuce is without a doubt one of the simplest crops to grow using hydroponics. All lettuce kinds grow fast and are quite easy to care for.
Furthermore, they thrive in the majority of the common hydroponically grown vegetable systems, such as NFT, Aeroponics, Ebb and Flow, and so on.
Spinach
This is one of those green hydroponic veggies that can be eaten raw or cooked, and it makes a great basis for rich veggie smoothies. It generally necessitates a stable temperature and a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. However, if you want to cultivate delicious spinach, keep the temperature between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. However, be aware that doing so can inhibit the development of a normally fast-growing plant.
The good news is that you may either harvest all of the spinach at once or take off a few leaves at regular intervals. If the temperature and growth conditions are favourable, you may obtain up to 12 weeks of continuous harvesting this way.
While these vegetables are likely to survive in all types of hydroponic systems, the Nutrient Film Technique is the most effective.
Kale
Because of the nutritious and broad range of health advantages it delivers, kale is a favourite among those experimenting with growing vegetables hydroponically. Kale is one of the few plants in India linked with hydroponic farming that has been cultivated in an aqueous medium for many years. Another advantage of growing it inside is pests are also avoided.
The entire process of the plant, from seed to harvest, takes roughly 10 weeks. However, this is balanced by the fact that you may pluck leaves during this time period and fresh leaves will grow back. Growing kale hydroponically is pretty simple; all that is required is an acidic growing environment. The pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5 for this plant to grow. Furthermore, it can grow in a broad variety of temperatures ranging from 7 to 29 degrees Celsius.
Radishes
Root vegetables, in general, are not ideal for hydroponically growing vegs, but radishes are an exception. They are ideally suited for this strategy since they are a cool-weather crop. They, like lettuce, mature quickly and are one of the simplest plants to raise. They love a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0 and nearly rarely require additional light. A minimum of 6 hours of light exposure is required.
Seedlings are not recommended for this vegetable since it is better produced from seeds, according to experts. This method allows you to view seedlings within 3-7 days. From germination until harvest, the plant may normally be harvested in three to four weeks.
Celery
Celery, grown traditionally as winter or early spring vegetable, is often regarded as a cleansing tonic. Cooler temperatures ranging from 15 to 23 degrees Celsius are ideal for the plant. However, make sure that the temperature is not too chilly, since this can inhibit the growth of the plant.
The lighting needs are minimal; celery requires around 6 hours of light every day to flourish. They prefer pH values ranging from 5.8 to 6.8 and thrive in Ebb and Flow systems. However, unlike most other hydroponic crops, they can take up to 140 days to grow using this method, so you may want to begin earlier in the season.
