Soil is extremely essential for growing plants and providing them nutrition. Everyone feels that farming and gardening cannot be imagined without soil. But now, with the advancement of time and technology, many techniques have come into use in farming. Now people are doing farming even without soil. You may find it a bit strange to hear, but farming is being done with the help of new technology even without soil. The name of this technique is hydroponics, under which vegetables are grown without soil. Let us tell you how this technique works and will also tell you about Top 10 vegetables That grow without soil.
What is this Hydroponics Technique?
Hydroponics is a simple and easy technique in which plants are grown without soil, by adding special nutrients to water. In this Technique the plant’s roots are placed directly in the nutrient-rich solution, or are set in an inert medium such as perlite, vermiculite, or coco peat, which absorbs nutrients from the solution. In this, the control of light, temperature, and nutrients is in our hands, due to which help to grow plants better.
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Top 10 Vegetables that Grow in Water Without Soil
Here we shared list of 1o organic vegetables which can Grow without Soil At home.
Lettuce
Lettuce is the star of hydroponics; it grows quickly and requires minimal care. As a leafy vegetable primarily used in salads, it can be easily cultivated using the hydroponics technique, which demands less space and eliminates the need for soil. Given that lettuce may not be readily available in many areas, you have the convenience of growing it as needed. The ideal temperature range for cultivating lettuce is between 10–20°C.
Spinach
You can also grow spinach easily through this technique. Spinach is beneficial for health, it provides us with antioxidants and many vitamins. Spinach also performs well in hydroponics, especially in cooler conditions. it becomes fully ripe in 35 to 40 days. Kept in mind, Too cold and too hot temperatures are not considered good for spinach. it can be grown between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius.
Tomatoes
Growing tomatoes in hydroponics requires a little care but, the result is delicious. Tomato is the best option for farming using hydroponic farming technique. Keep in mind that you should plant only good quality tomato plants in the hydroponic system. To grow tomatoes, you also have to keep the temperature balanced. For Tomato Plants 25 degree Celsius temperature is ideal.
Read Also: Top 7 Plants that grow in low nutrient soil
Cucumbers
These grow quickly and are the best players in hydroponic setup. Cucumbers grow on vines, their stem is weak and needs support. You can also prepare a wooden structure to provide support. However, for best results, you will have to nourish the plants from time to time by adding essential nutrients like nitrogen, potash, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium to the water. To grow cucumbers, you will need high temperatures, and 25 to 35 degrees is considered ideal for it.
Bell Peppers
Bell Peppers (Shimla Mirch) takes time to grow, but it flourishes in warm conditions and plenty of light. Bell Peppers comes in different colors. It can be easily grown using hydroponic technique, which does not require soil. In hydroponic technology, completely controlled nutrition is provided to the plants by using water, which leads to higher production.
Broccoli
Broccoli Also called Green cabbage in India, which can indeed be grown without soil. It requires a bit of care, but is definitely doable. The most preferred broccoli variety that grows well with hydroponic technology is calabrese Broccoli. Broccoli takes about 7 to 14 days to germinate. It grows well at around 23 degree Celsius. While planting, keep in mind that there should be a distance of 7–8 inches between the plants. With the right nutrients and Proper care, you can Easily grow fresh and healthy broccoli from your hydroponic system.
Read Also: How To Grow Broccoli Microgreens At Home
Coriander
Coriander can be grown without soil for a constant supply of fresh leaves, perfect for garnishing. Coriander leaves use in every Indian kitchen, but do you know that coriander vegetable can be grown very easily through hydroponic technique. This plant with fragrant leaves adds to all types of vegetables and enhances their taste. Coriander is used extensively as a green vegetable and spice.
Green onions
You can grow green onions hydroponically very easily. To grow it, we let the regular onions grow in the form of bulbs while the spring onions are harvested before the bulbs mature. When we grow onions through a hydroponic system, their growth is usually faster. For this, the pH level has to be maintained between 6 to 6.5 pH. Temperature of 15 to 24 degree Celsius is good for the growth of onion. Green onions germinate in about 6–8 days. You can grow green onions hydroponically very easily.
Read Also: Grow Your Own Greens: Easy Vegetables for Your Terrace Garden in India
Kale
Kale is a nutrient-rich plant which can be easily grown through hydroponics method. The calories produced are a rich source of antioxidants and play an important role in keeping our body healthy. Let us tell you that the curly black seeds of Kale are the most commonly used seeds for hydroponics. Kale vegetable plants grow well hydroponically because of their adaptability.
Read Also: How To Grow Kale at Home In Pots
