What Can I Grow Hydroponically?
Not sure which crops thrive in a hydroponic garden? Select the plants you're interested in below and we'll show you everything you need to know — days to harvest, best systems, nutrient strength, and free building plans to get started.
Select the Crops You Want to Grow
Click one or more crops, then hit Show My Results.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can grow a wide variety of plants hydroponically, including leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale, herbs such as basil, cilantro, and mint, fruiting crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and strawberries, and even microgreens. In general, any plant that doesn't require deep soil for root vegetable development is a good candidate for hydroponic growing.
The best plants for hydroponic beginners are lettuce, herbs (basil, mint, parsley), spinach, and microgreens. These crops are forgiving, grow quickly, and thrive in simple systems like Kratky jars or basic DWC setups. They require lower nutrient concentrations and less light than fruiting crops, making them ideal for learning the fundamentals.
Absolutely! Tomatoes and peppers are among the most popular fruiting crops grown hydroponically. They do best in DWC or drip systems with higher nutrient concentrations (EC 1.5-2.5) and at least 14-16 hours of light per day. While they take longer to harvest (55-90 days) and are rated as intermediate difficulty, the yields can be exceptional compared to soil growing.
Microgreens are the fastest hydroponic crop, ready to harvest in just 7-14 days. Basil and herbs come next at 25-35 days, followed by lettuce at 30-45 days. If you want quick results and near-instant gratification, start with a simple microgreens tray or a Kratky jar of lettuce.
Yes, but you'll have the best results pairing crops with similar nutrient needs and light requirements. For example, lettuce, spinach, herbs, and microgreens all share similar EC ranges (0.8-1.5) and light needs (10-14 hours), so they grow well together. Fruiting crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers also pair well since they need higher EC (1.5-2.5) and more light (14-16 hours). Use the interactive tool above to check which crops are compatible.