Everyone’s ranking hydroponics these days, but you shouldn’t overlook the beautiful world of the aeroponic tower garden. The name gives it away: this is growing plants and veggies in the air (as opposed to in soil, of course). Think whenever you’ve seen Matt Damon growing potatoes out of air and water in The Martian.
NASA has been utilizing and researching aeroponic growing techniques for years. In an aeroponic setup, a plant’s roots are usually suspended in a humid-contained atmosphere, just above a water fuel mist that tricks the root into thinking it’s swimming in soil.
Some such as Gardyn’s aeroponic towers are specifically designed to use several times less water than conventional gardening or other hydroponic technologies. The computerized schedule delivers water and light in a way that promotes healthy plant growth. With the exception of a few very small units, almost all aeroponic systems require some form of water pump that relies upon a source of electricity.
Beyond this, there are many advantages to growing with an aeroponic system, so before we get to the top 5 aeroponic vegetable recommendations, we would like to discuss some of the reasons why an aeroponic system is a great option for growing plants.
Here are some distinct benefits of aeroponic vegetable gardening:
- Faster yields: Aeroponic plants grow three times faster compared to soil-grown plants
- Year round growing: When using grow lights, just like in a windowsill garden, you can grow crops all year round throughout your home.
- Uses less water: According to NASA scientists, it uses 98 percent less water than growing in soil – a huge plus if you live somewhere like southern California.
- Less risk of pests and disease: Because the growing environment of aeroponics is somewhat sealed and controlled, this reduces the risk of diseases and fungi. If your aeroponic system is inside, you’ll also have less chance of pests eating your leaves.
Here are some of the best plants to grow in an aeroponic tower:
#1 Lettuce and leafy greens
Lettuce, spinach and kale grow very well in an aeroponic environment, too. Leafy greens like lettuce grow best indoors, away from sun and inclement weather, as their flavor can become bitter if plants experience significant fluctuations in temperature. Grow more lettuce plants using vertical aeroponic systems – without increasing your footprint dramatically.
#2 Tomatoes
One of the best plants for aeroponic growing are tomatoes. Smaller cherry and grape varieties prefer this type of gardening but bigger varieties will grow here too. You’ll have to use a type of structure to keep the bigger plants upright. Some aeroponic systems can be configured to run downward from the spraying points, which makes this possible. Planting different types of tomatoes at the same time is good to stagger maturation.
#3 Cucumbers
If you are looking for the best plants for aeroponic systems, cucumbers won’t disappoint. Much like bigger varieties of tomatoes, you’ll want to find a structure or trellis that the vines can cling to. Otherwise your cucumbers will likely grow downward as long as there is space within your aeroponic system. Providing a trellis is the easiest option.
#4 Peppers
Peppers will grow upward like the cucumber, so perhaps some support will be needed, especially for the larger varieties of peppers. A good tip: pinch the first flower set off or snip the stems off, as it will encourage more growth, thus a bigger yield.
#5 Carrots
Root vegetables such as carrots can’t be grown in a hydroponic system (the roots will literally drown and die), but you certainly can achieve great results in an aeroponic garden. Single-level aeroponic systems are ideal for carrots so you can easily see when it’s time to harvest them. And, don’t grow them too big or you’ll never get them out of the aeroponic pots!
Conclusion
As with hydroponic systems, there are many choices in aeroponic systems. Some of them are expensive in terms of the upfront cost, depending on what size system you get. However, when established, the cost is no more, if not less, than outdoor gardening in soil.
Also Read: Eating for Energy: Fueling Your Vitality with Nutrient-Rich Foods
