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Are you a green thumb looking to break the boredom and hassle that comes with growing vegetables in soil? Well, we’re sharing tons of information on what vegetables to grow indoors in hydroponics.
What is a hydroponic vegetable garden?
This is a vegetable garden used to grow vegetables in a soilless medium. A nutrient-rich soilless medium is used instead of soil. Such media include sand, perlite, gravel, coconut coir, vermiculite, or nutrient-rich water in which the plant roots are suspended and receive the nutrients.
Hydroponic vegetable gardens use less water compared to soil-based gardens. All you need is containers or pots, water, plants, nutrients and a source of light. However, for an indoor vegetable garden, you need enough light. Most use artificial grow lights which helps to speed up growth rate.
Vegetables to grow in an indoor hydroponic garden
Below is a list of vegetables that can be grown indoors in hydroponics.
Kales
Due to their leafy nature, kales do well in indoor hydroponics provided that they receive enough light, water, nutrients and space. They are easy to maintain and take a short time from planting to maturity.
Bok Choy
Bok choy grows well in indoor hydroponics. This vegetable contains approximately 90% of water hence a perfect vegetable for this soilless method of growing. Additionally, it grows fast and has a short maturity period.
Basil
In even the tiniest of spaces, basil grows easily and faster. It is easy to maintain when grown indoors and in hydroponics and has a short maturity period.
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Celery
Celery is known for its high water content. It grows fast and has a short maturity period. It does well in a hydroponic setup.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables grown hydroponically. They grow well indoors but require a lot of warmth and light.
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Chard
This vegetable is loved because it is full of antioxidants, fiber, iron, magnesium, and vitamins. It has high yields when grown hydroponically and can be grown all year round.
Cauliflower
Growing cauliflower in hydroponics is easy but requires a more elaborate setup. However, they grow faster and maintenance is easy.
Eggplant
These vegetables fall in the same category with tomatoes and bell peppers. They do well in indoor hydroponics, are easy to grow and maintain and have a short maturity period.
Cucumbers
Although they demand a lot of space, cucumbers do extremely well in indoor hydroponics. Do not hesitate to grow them if you want your salads a little bit crunchier.
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Spinach
These nutrient-rich leafy vegetables are easy to grow and maintain. They have a short maturity period and can be used in a variety of dishes and salads.
Chives
The best way to grow chives in indoor hydroponics is to use vertical towers. They are able to grow all year round, require a considerable amount of lighting and grow very fast.
Beetroot
Did you know that beets grow well in hydroponics? With the right amount of nutrients, water, and lighting, you can grow beets all year round.
Lettuce
Due to its fast-growing nature, basil is highly recommended for indoor hydroponics. It grows fast hence and can be harvested several times a year. It is easy to maintain and experience limited pest damage in a hydroponics system.
Bell Pepper
Peppers grow all year round and need a lot of warmth and light to grow. They grow fast and are easy to maintain.
Radish
If you love radishes and want to add some to your table, try growing them in hydroponics. You will get high yields in a fast turnaround time. In addition, they are easy to grow and maintain.
Benefits of Growing Vegetables in Indoor Hydroponics
- Vegetables that grow in indoor hydroponics grow bigger and faster, unlike those grown in soil, because there is reduced competition for nutrients and light with weeds and other unwanted plants.
- Unlike their soil counterparts, vegetables grown in indoor hydroponics always give double the yields. This is because their nutrient uptake is faster than soil-grown crops which take a lot of time extending their roots to access nutrients.
- Growing your vegetables in indoor hydroponics eliminates the chances of pests, diseases, and weeds that may attack your vegetables. Additionally, your vegetables will be guarded from damages caused by storms, drought, and floods because temperatures in this setup are controlled; hence, the plants only get what they require.
- This method is very effective if you have limited space. The method is commonly used by city-dwellers who do not have enough space for farming.
- Maintenance of vegetables grown in indoor hydroponics is hassle-free since the systems are automated, unlike growing them in soil gardens, which can be labor-intensive from seeding to harvesting.
- Vegetable production in indoor hydroponics is all year round. Water is typically reused and recycled.
- This method is very effective for people with mobility and physical challenges. The plants are not grown so low hence gardeners do not have to bend when working on the vegetables.
Cons of an Indoor Hydroponic Vegetable Garden
Some chemicals used to control pests and diseases have unpleasant smells that pose a risk to human health.
In most cases, if your house does not receive enough lighting, you have to buy or make your own grow lights stand to supplement the natural light.
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Purity Wamoyi
Purity Wamoyi is a horticulturist. She studied BSc Horticulture at the University of Nairobi. She has a passion for agriculture driven by her urge to be a champion and ambassador in fighting for food security.She believes that the world would be a better place if we did the little things that bring peace and uphold humanity. During her free time, Purity loves watching soccer and is a huge ardent Chelsea fan.
