Super simple tips for growing hydroponic vegetables

(Baonghean.vn) - Growing hydroponic vegetables not only saves land but also helps isolate vegetables from pests, polluted water, and toxins.

Leafy vegetables are very suitable for growing in hydroponic environments, such as lettuce, tomatoes, cruciferous vegetables, amaranth, water spinach, basil, green onions, garlic, sprouts, etc.

Advantages of growing hydroponic vegetables

No tillage, no weeds. No pesticides or herbicides.

Can be grown in many crops, can be grown off-season, no need to water; productivity is 25% to 50% higher. The product is completely clean and uniform; does not accumulate toxins, does not pollute the environment.

Necessary conditions for growing hydroponic vegetables

A covered terrace is the most suitable place to grow hydroponic vegetables, because vegetables need light for photosynthesis at least 6 - 7 hours a day, but at the same time must avoid rain because it can dilute the hydroponic solution, causing vegetables to lack essential nutrients.

How to install a hydroponic system

- A-shaped shelf:This type of shelf is sturdy and easy to move; the 8-tube shelf model requires an iron frame measuring 1.55 x 1.45m; it is possible to make a shelf with 8, 10 or 12 tubes depending on needs.

- Horizontal truss type:Suitable for large rooftop areas; the trellis has an iron frame, growing tubes, a pump, and a container. The tubes are placed on horizontal racks, and hydroponic nutrient solution is pumped up and supplied to each tube; only 8 tubes, each 6m long, need to be planted in rotation to have green vegetables to eat continuously.

- Suspension type:This type of rack is suitable for houses with a "modest" area; the rack needs to be about 2 m high with a similar length, the pipes are prepared with holes drilled just enough to place plastic cups (or plastic baskets), water pipes and a cable rack to hang the pipes.

Prepare tools and seedlings

- Plastic cups:The plastic cups (or plastic baskets) are best dark or opaque to prevent light from penetrating, creating a dark environment for the roots to grow well and prevent moss from growing inside. Punch holes around the plastic cups so that the roots can penetrate through these holes into the solution.

- Substrate:The substrate can be coconut fiber, boiled straw, burnt rice husk, corn silk, etc. You can combine straw and burnt rice husk. The burnt rice husk is black and is covered on the surface of the cup to ensure light protection for the roots to grow well.

- Seedlings:Plants are sown in trays (each tray has about 130 - 200 small pots depending on the type).

Soak and incubate the seeds until they crack, then sow them in trays; each tray can provide about 200 seedlings.

When the plants have not germinated, place the tray in a sheltered light; when the plants have sprouted evenly, about 2 cm, bring them to light. When the plants have a few true leaves, remove the seedlings and transfer them to the solution.

Mix hydroponic solution

Nutrient solution is a solution mixed in the appropriate ratio with ingredients that are elements needed for plant growth. There are AB solutions, powders... each type has different preparation methods and dosages, depending on the type of plant to be grown.

There are many formulas for mixing hydroponic solutions. To divide evenly, we mix the mother solution: Put the nutrient powder bag into 6 liters of water, stir well, then add 0.5 liter of mother solution to each foam box and raise the water level to 12 liters of water/foam box, stir well.

Sowing seeds

Depending on the type of vegetable, you can sow it more sparsely. After sowing, put the lid on to avoid disturbing the seeds, and spray some water on top of the seeds.

Take care of

During the growth process, the plant will absorb the solution in the foam box, so it is necessary to add the solution regularly (once a week) to ensure adequate nutrition for the plant.

Add clean water until harvest for vegetables harvested once; if vegetables are harvested multiple times, add 30% of the initial amount of mother solution after each harvest.

Monitor daily, if there are worms, catch them by mechanical methods; add and replace bad, weak, dead plants, change position for vegetables to have enough light and nutrition; cut off yellow leaves, prune roots, clean boxes after each harvest for seasonal plants (water spinach, basil...)

In summer, shade with black net from 10am to 4pm.

Harvest

For vegetables such as water spinach, mustard greens, Malabar spinach, and Vietnamese coriander, the first harvest can be done after 2-3 weeks. Cut or trim the vegetables, then add the solution so that the vegetables can continue to grow for the next harvests. Usually, each harvest is about 1 week apart./.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)