Hydroponic Farming: Crops that Cannot be Grown in a Hydroponic System

Hydroponic farming has become a foundation of sustainable agriculture since it is both efficient as well as environmentally safe. If you want to start hydroponic farming in India, the first step is to figure out which plants are the most difficult to produce and which are the easiest.

Let us take a look at the crops that cannot be grown using a hydroponic system. 

Sweet Potatoes and Potatoes 

Sweet potatoes and potatoes need a lot of room to grow, and their roots must be allowed to spread out. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are starchy crops, thus they will require more nutrition as compared to other vegetables. Since potatoes require components found in soil, such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, a lack of soil is also a concern.

Vine Crops

Vine crops require additional support, such as a trellis, to avoid toppling over. The vine would not have enough area to develop and would not receive the support it needs in a hydroponic system.

Installing a trellis for a hydroponic system is time-consuming and impractical because it adds to the expense, complicates the process of changing fertilizers and water, and makes finding the right amount of lighting difficult.

Corn

Corn has deep roots that require a lot of sunlight to grow. Its roots can reach a depth of 60 inches. Another issue to consider is that maize is generally produced in fields with full sunlight. The LED, or Light Emitting Diode, would not have the same effect in a hydroponic farming arrangement.

Pumpkin and Other Gourds

Pumpkins and other gourds are usually cultivated on the ground and need a lot of room to spread out. They are particularly challenging to cultivate in a hydroponic system due to their huge size. Pumpkins also require pollination from bees, which might be difficult in a confined environment.