The possibility of growing your own food right in your backyard or even inside your apartment can be very exciting but then you may be wondering what can you grow hydroponically at home? There are several vegetable produce and fruits that you can grow hydroponically at home.
Vegetables and fruits are a very good source of vitamins and minerals in our diets and the ability to grow them in your house or by yourself gives you the opportunity to grow your favorite produce for meals like salads, side dishes, etc.
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What Vegetables Can You Grow Hydroponically
Below is a description of some of the vegetable produce that can be grown hydroponically with the various hydroponic systems and conditions that may be suitable for each vegetable or fruit.
Lettuce
Lettuce is a great example of one of the vegetables that can be grown hydroponically at home. It is mostly used for salads, sandwiches, soups, and even for grilling. There certain bioactive compounds found in lettuce that are attributed with anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering properties. There are several varieties of lettuce that are suitable for this including butterhead, oakleaf, lollo, romaine, Batavia, etc. varieties.
Ideal Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Lettuce
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 60 – 70 | 55 – 90 | 65 – 75 | 0.7 – 2.8 | 5.5 – 6.0 |
Hydroponic Systems for Lettuce: Lettuce can do well with most hydroponic systems. Some of these lettuce include bottle hydroponics, floating rafts, wicking bed, NFT etc.
Suitable Temperature: The temperature range for both germination and growth of lettuce should be within the range of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and 90 degrees Fahrenheit where 60 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit is most suitable for germination.
Basil
Basil is a nice vegetable that has strong, pungent and sometimes sweet smell. It can be easily grown hydroponically at home and it is often used in soups, salads and a common ingredient or vegetable in Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. It has also been demonstrated that Basil may have potential for prevention and treatment of some cancers.
Some of the varieties of Basil include Italian large leaf, Napoletano, Aroma 2, Red Rubin, Genovese varieties, Siam Queen, Sweet Thai etc. It is also important to know that Basil often performs better when the seeds are densely propagated together. They can they grow together form a dense basil canopy.
Ideal Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Basil
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 65 – 75 | 70 -75 | 70 – 80 | 0.7 – 2.8 | 5.5 – 6.0 |
Hydroponic Systems for Basil: Basil can grow and perform very well in most hydroponic systems and some of these systems include bottle hydroponics (suitable for people who have very limited space), NFT, wicking bed, vertical gutter garden, flood and drain etc.
Suitable Temperature: The ideal temperature for germination of Basil seeds is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Water temperatures are usually between 70 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit but basil has been observed to grow well in extremes of 60 – 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Peppers
Peppers can be grown hydroponically at home or even on a large scale hydroponic farm. Peppers are classified as both fruits and vegetables with low calorie values and high content of vitamins and antioxidants. Peppers have been shown to have various health benefits including reduction in the risk of death from heart attack and stroke.
There are several varieties of pepper that can be grown hydroponically with good yield outcomes. Some of these varieties include red datil, Bulgarian carrot, Anaheim chile, Tam Jalopeno, Relleno, Habanada, etc.
Hydroponic Systems for Pepper: Peppers can do very well with most of the hydroponic systems available and you can use any of them depending on what is most convenient for you and what quantity or scale of hydroponic farming for pepper that you want to do. Some of the examples of the hydroponic systems that you can use include flood and drain method, floating rafts, wicking bed, top drip etc.
Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Peppers
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 75 – 85 | 65 – 70 | 65 – 100 | 0.7 – 2.5 | 5.0 – 7.0 |
Temperature: The ideal temperature for hydroponic pepper seeds to germinate is between 75 – 85°F but most times the seeds can germinate even at temperatures outside this range. Water temperatures should be around 65-70°F but this can vary widely between 55-85°F. The air temperatures should be in the range of 65 – 100°F.
Electrical Conductivity: Electrical Conductivity (E.C) for hydroponic peppers can be around 0.7 – 2.5 but peppers have performed well with E.C of nutrients with wide ranges as 1.4 – 1.8.
P.H: The nutrient solution P.H for peppers should be between 5.0 – 7 with best P.H range between 5.5 – 5.8
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are very good vegetables that can be grown hydroponically with great yields. Tomatoes are also a staple vegetable that is used in diverse cuisine. It is popular for making stews, and as part of salads, as well as tomato juice. It can also be processed and preserved as a paste. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients-rich compounds like lycopene. Studies have shown that high levels of lycopene decrease the risk of acute myocardial infarction (heart disease) in men.
There are several varieties of tomatoes that can be grown hydroponically. These include red rubin, dwarf golden heart, sarandipity, sun gold, Juliet F1, sakura, black cherry, yellow pear, etc.
Hydroponic Systems for Tomatoes
Most tomato varieties do very well with hydroponic systems like top drip and flood and drain systems. However, other systems like floating rafts, wicking beds and vertical gutter garden can be very suitable for growing tomatoes hydroponically. Tomatoes can be grown both indoors and outdoors, but you must ensure that the conditions are ideal for which ever environment you choose. Most hydroponic tomatoes can start producing fruit within 55 – 60 days after germination with some varieties taking as much as 70 days to fruit.
Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Tomatoes
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 68 – 90 | 65 – 70 | 60 – 75 | 1.2 – 2.5 | 5.5 – 6.0 |
Temperature: The ideal air temperature for growing your hydroponic tomatoes is usually between 60-75 0F and germination temperature for tomato seeds is usually between 75 – 900F. However, there are instances where some tomato varieties can grow and do well in temperatures outside of this range. For instance, cherry tomatoes can grow well in high temperatures of up to 900F.
Electrical Conductivity: The ideal E.C for tomatoes usually lies between 1.2 – 1.8 for most varieties but some varieties can still perform well with E.C as high as 2.5. For instance, Tasmanian chocolate and dwarf golden heart varieties do well with E.C of 1.2 – 1.6 while red rubin and black cherry can thrive with E.C as high as 2.5
PH: An ideal PH for almost all tomato varieties is usually between 5.5 and 6.0
Strawberries
Strawberries can be grown hydroponically and they usually thrive and produce a great yield with this method of growing when the right conditions are in place. Irrespective of the classification (whether strawberries are fruits or berries or vegetables), strawberries are low calories foods that are rich in vitamins, antioxidants especially polyphenols category of antioxidants. They are typically used for toppings for yogurts, smoothie shakes, juicing, fruit salads, etc.
There are several varieties of strawberries that can be grown hydroponically. Some of these varieties include: deliz, earliglow, sparkle, evie, pineberry, seascape, sweetcharlie etc. They can be grown with hydroponic methods at home or on a large scale using efficient hydroponic farming systems.
Hydroponic Systems for strawberries:
Strawberries can be grown with any hydroponic system except for bottle hydroponics. Most people prefer to use vertical gardens hydroponic setup to grow their strawberries because vertical system provides good height to keep the strawberry crown above the substrate. There is high likelihood that the plant will rot and die if it gets too wet.
Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Strawberries
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 70 | 60 – 75 | 60 – 80 | 0.8 – 2.5 | 5.5 – 6.0 |
Temperature: The ideal temperature for strawberry seed germination is usually 700F but the air temperature for an ideal growth environment is usually between 60 – 80oF. Strawberry plants thrives and grows well with Nutrient solution or water temperatures between 60-750F.
Electrical Conductivity: Hydroponic strawberries perform well with E.C values between 0.8 – 1.2 and can even tolerate higher E.C of up to 2.5.
PH: The best PH values for growing strawberries hydroponically is usually between 5.5 – 6.0
Kale
Kale is another vegetable that can be grown hydroponically and it is a leafy green vegetable with diverse uses. It is also rich in nutrients like vitamins and antioxidants and also a good source of dietary fiber. It can be used for salads, soups, smoothies, chips, etc. or you can even eat it raw. Kale is known to have several health benefits that help to prevent various health conditions. For instance, the high dietary fiber content of kale may help improve gastrointestinal conditions like constipation or prevent them from occurring.
There are many varieties of kale that can be grown hydroponically. Some of these varieties include: Red Russian, Toscana, red kale, scarlet kale, Siberian, scarlet, Olympic red etc. It is important to know that kale that is grown for salad is normally harvested at the early baby leaf stage.
Hydroponic Systems for Kale
Kale can be grown hydroponically with almost any kind of hydroponic system. You can use bottle hydroponics system for simple home hydroponics or you can use other systems like vertical gutter, flood and drain, wicking beds, media beds etc. Your goal should be the deciding factor about the kind of system you want to use for growing kale hydroponically.
You can use simple easy and cost effective systems like bottle hydroponics or top drip system if you just want to grow kale at home or as a hobbyist. Evaluate other factors and how they will affect your outputs and goals if you are doing it on a large scale or as a business before making a decision.
Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Kale
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 75 – 85 | 60 – 75 | 60 – 90 | 1.2 – 2.3 | 5.5 – 6.6 |
Temperature: The ideal temperature for germination of kale seeds is usually between 75-850F irrespective of the variety but the air temperature for an ideal growth environment for kale is usually between 60 – 90oF. Kale grows well with Nutrient solution or water temperatures between 60-750F.
Electrical Conductivity: The best E.C for growing hydroponic Kale is normally 1.2 – 2.3.
PH: the best PH for growing kale hydroponically is 5.5 – 6.6
Spinach
Spinach is a common vegetable and it can be grown hydroponically at home or commercially on a large scale. Spinach can be prepared and eaten in various ways and it is a part of many cuisines across the world. It can be eaten fresh or processed and preserved in various ways including canned foods. It is common to find spinach in vegetable salads, smoothies, soups, or even part of grilled meals.
Spinach is rich with high fiber content and low carbohydrates and it contains a lot of vitamins and antioxidants that are important for various body functions. It is also known to play an important role in prevention of oxidative stress and cancer as well as having the potential to moderate blood pressure.
There are several species of spinach that can be grown hydroponically. Some of the great species that are good for hydroponics include Kookabura F1, Carmel F1, Avon, Chinese spinach. Other species that are not very good for hydroponics include Emperor F1, Reflect F1, Woodpecker F1, Flamingo F1 etc.
Hydroponic Systems for Spinach
Spinach can be grown using any hydroponic system but it is often more challenging to grow when compared to other hydroponic vegetables. Some of the common systems that can be used include flood and drain system, wicking bed, floating rafts etc. it is important to pick the right spinach species to grow hydroponically to increase or improve the odds of success and yield outcomes.
Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Spinach
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 45 – 65 | 50 – 70 | 65 – 75 | 0.7 – 2.3 | 5.5 – 6.0 |
Temperature: The best temperature for germination of spinach seeds is between 45 – 65oF. It is important to avoid high temperatures of over 80OF because spinach does not do very well in high temperatures. Water or nutrient solution temperatures for spinach can be between 50 – 70oF and air temperature can be in the range of 65 – 75oF.
Electrical Conductivity: The best E.C for hydroponic spinach is around 0.7 – 2.3.
PH: The best PH for growing spinach hydroponically is 5.5 – 6.0
Asian Greens (Bok Choi)
Asian greens or Bok Choi can be grown hydroponically and they present a good alternative to other vegetables like kale, spinach etc. Also, there are variety of these vegetables that you almost cannot be out of options on how to cook or use them. You can prepare by steaming, frying, cooking, stir-fry, braise them for your meals and even mix them in your vegetable salads.
Asian greens are a very good source of nutrients and health benefits of Asian greens include cancer prevention, boosting immunity, heart health and prevention or reduction of inflammation and chronic conditions like diabetes.
There are several types of Asian greens that can be grown hydroponically. These include Toy Choi, Joi Choi, Red Choi F1, Purple Choi, Tatsoi, etc.
Hydroponic Systems for Asian Greens
There are various hydroponic systems that are suitable for growing Asian greens. Some of these are very simple and easy to use like bottle hydroponics and floating rafts. Other systems that are very compatible with growing Bok Choi include wicking bed, top drip, NFT, media beds, aeroponics, and vertical gutter hydroponic methods.
Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Asian Greens (Bok Choi)
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 75 – 85 | 65 – 75 | 60 – 80 | 1.2 – 2.3 | 5.5 – 6.5 |
Temperature: The best germination temperature for most Bok Choi varieties is usually in the range of 75 – 850F, and the ideal temperature for water nutrient solution can be around 65 – 750F. The air temperature for optimal growth is usually around 60–80°F.
Electrical Conductivity: The best E.C for Asian greens (Bok Choi) is usually around 1.2 – 2.3
PH: The ideal PH for growing Asian greens (Bok Choi) is 5.5 – 6.5
Microgreens
Microgreens are vegetables that are actually baby plants that are usually between 1 – 3 inches tall and harvested as baby plants. Microgreens can be grown hydroponically and they perform very well in terms of yield output. They have a short growth cycle which is usually about 21 days after germination. This makes them very profitable to grow because of the relatively short period between planting and harvesting.
Microgreens are increasingly becoming a part of various cuisines and can be blended and mixed into oatmeal, pancake, baked goods, etc. Microgreens are very rich in nutrients and phytochemicals and studies have shown that the nutrients in the baby plants are more potent than nutrients in the same plants when they become matured.
Some of the health benefits of microgreens include boost to immune system, reduction in the risk of heart disease, anti-cancer properties, improvement to eyesight, constipation reduction etc.
Some of the plants that can be grown hydroponically as microgreens include kale, basil, broccoli, mustard, parsley, swiss chard, cilantro etc.
Hydroponic Systems for Microgreens
Several hydroponic systems can be used for growing microgreens effectively. Some of the best hydroponic methods to use include ebbs and flow system (also known as flood and drain system, Nutrient film technique (NFT), aeroponics, drip systems etc. It is important to know that exposure to light is very critical for microgreens to perform well and over watering baby plants may predispose them to getting rot or infected by fungus.
Growth Conditions for Hydroponic Microgreens
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 70 – 80 | 60 – 75 | 60 – 75 | 0.7 – 2.5 | 5.5 – 6.0 |
Temperature: The best germination temperatures for hydroponic microgreens is 70- 80oF for most plant varieties, and the ideal temperature for water or nutrient solution 60 – 75 oF. Air temperatures that are great for growing microgreens are around 60 – 75 oF.
Electrical Conductivity: The best E.C for growing microgreens hydroponically is 0.7 – 2.5. In most cases, microgreens can be grown without the use fertilizers since their growth cycle is very short.
PH: The best PH for growing microgreens hydroponically is 5.5 – 6.0
Cucumbers
Cucumbers can be grown hydroponically and it performs well when the right varieties are used under the right conditions. Cucumber is a great vegetable that is used in a variety of meals and a part of diverse cuisines around the world. It can be eaten raw, or mixed as part of vegetable salads, or blended as a juice, baked, etc. It is a low calorie vegetable that is rich in water content and nutrients. Some of the health benefits of eating cucumbers include prevention of oxidative stress by antioxidants contained in it, great option for promoting hydration and weight loss as a result of its high water content and low calories.
Most varieties of cucumbers can be grown hydroponically, but it is important to ensure that the variety you want to use will do well under certain growth conditions. Some of the best species of cucumber that can be grown hydroponically include burbpless, bitter-free, spineless etc. cucumbers.
Hydroponic Systems for Cucumbers
Some of the hydroponic systems that are ideal for growing cucumbers hydroponically include Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), deep water culture (DWC), ebb and flow technique or flood and drain technique.
Growth Conditions for Cucumbers
| Germination Temperature (0F) | Nutrient Solution Temperature (0F) | Air Temperature (0F) | Electrical Conductivity | PH |
| 75 – 85 | 1.7 – 2.5 | 5.5 – 6.0 |
Temperature: The ideal air temperature for germinating cucumber seeds and growing cucumbers hydroponically is 75 – 85OF. There are instances where cucumbers grow well under temperature conditions that are a little higher than this range. Cucumbers also prefer moderate humid conditions to grow well.
Electrical Conductivity: The best E.C for growing cucumbers hydroponically is 1.7 – 2.5
PH: The best PH range for optimal results in growing cucumbers hydroponically is 5.5 – 6.0