Best Plants to Grow Hydroponically

Are you new to hydroponics? If so, you are probably wondering about the best plants to grow hydroponically. The chances are good that you have a few reasonably easy edibles to try your hand using the cultivation method. You’ll want to run through a few test crops before you diversify your garden. We will explore five fun and easy plants in this arctic to grow using a standard hydroponic system. 

Five Easy-to-Grow Edibles to Grow Hydroponically 

Below are five of the easiest plants to grow hydroponically as your first garden crop. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the plants grow and the sheer size you can achieve using a hydroponic growing method. 

1. Lettuce

Who doesn’t enjoy a crisp green salad or a few leaves of lettuce on their sandwich? The leafy green is bursting with flavor and highly nutritious. In addition, it is a straightforward plant to grow hydroponically because it has a shallow root system and requires no support to guide the plant’s growth. Lettuce grows well in any hydroponic system, and all you have to do is regularly change the nutrient solution to promote robust growth.  

Typically it takes only 30 days from seed to harvest. Maintain a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 for best growth results. You’ll want to stagger the plants, so you have a continuous supply of the leafy greens. Try Bibb, Romaine, Boston, Buttercrunch, and Iceberg. 

2. Strawberries

You can grow delicious strawberries year-round hydroponically. Use an ebb and flow system for best results. It typically takes 60 days from the time you start the cold-stored runners to harvest. Maintain a pH of 5.5 to 6.2. The best strawberries to grow hydroponically are Tioga, Douglass, Brighton, Red Gauntlet, or Chandler.

3. Spinach

Spinach makes you strong, ask Popeye! It is also a wonderfully easy plant to grow hydroponically. Just keep the water highly oxygenated for best results. Start the plants from seed and them into your hydroponic system. Growth time takes about 40 days. Keep the pH at 6.0 to 7.5. Maintain the water temperature between 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit to produce sweet-tasting veggies. Pick Bloomsdale, Catalina, Red Cardinal, Smooth Leafed, Regiment, or Tyee for best growth results. 

4. Bell Peppers

Bell peppers grow well hydroponically, but you must prune and pinch the plants to maintain a growth height of 8 inches and encourage pepper production. It typically takes 90 days before you can harvest. Maintain a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Give the peppers at least 18 hours of light per day. If you are using grow lights, then keep the plants about six inches away from the lights. Try Vidi, California Wonder, Yolo Wonder, or Ace varieties. 

5. Herbs for Hydroponics

You can grow a wide array of herbs hydroponically, so you are never out of fresh spices for your culinary recipes. Try cilantro, mint, rosemary, watercress, oregano, dill, basil, parsley, or thyme. Remember to flush your grow medium about once per week to avoid excess nutrient buildup in plants before harvest. 

At Humboldts, we provide a full line of nutrient solutions to help you grow the best plants hydroponically. Contact us to learn more.