Common Crops Used for Hydroponics

Lettuce does well in hydroponic culture.

Hydroponics is a method for growing plants without soil and with nutrients provided by a water solution. Not all plants do well with this technique, but a number of commercial food and ornamental crops are successfully grown.

Lettuce

All forms of lettuce (as well as similar leafy greens) are grown hydroponically, usually using the nutrient film technique (NFT).

Tomatoes

Tomatoes were the first plants to be successfully grown using modern methods by William F. Gericke starting in 1929. Tomatoes are usually produced using drip irrigation methods.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are grown successfully using the same methods that work for tomatoes.

Peppers

Pepper plants are quite similar to both tomatoes and cucumbers, so it is no surprise that hydroponic methods work for them as well.

Strawberries

Strawberries are successfully grown in NFT, drip, ebb-and-flow (flood and drain) or in hanging bag systems.

Cut Flowers

The cut flower industry uses hydroponics to grow all sorts of ornamental flowers such as chrysanthemums, roses and tulips.

References

• "Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower (Second Edition);" J. Benton Jones Jr.; 2005

Resources

• Hydroponics.com