Hydroponics is an innovative system that allows you to grow your own food faster at home even in limited spaces. Some of the easiest plants to grow in a hydroponic system include leafy greens like lettuce and spinach and herbs like coriander and basil.
Most root vegetables thrive in a soil garden because their roots grow downward. In contrast in the hydroponics garden, the roots are suspended in air and the plants get nutrients when exposed to nutrients.
So can you grow carrots hydroponically? This article explains everything you need to know about growing hydroponic carrots with a step-by-step guide. Let’s dive in.
Can You Grow Carrots Hydroponically?
Surprisingly, most gardeners don’t consider root crops as the first choice to grow hydroponically. The first choice of the best plant for hydroponics is vegetables, herbs, or tomatoes.
The truth is it is possible to grow carrots in a hydroponic system and produce high-quality yields particularly if you have limited space. However, you need to choose the right varieties since not all of them can grow in hydroponics.
You also need to consider starting from seeds instead of getting carrot seedlings from the soil to prevent the transfer of pests or harmful microorganisms to the hydroponic system.
The advantage of growing carrots hydroponically is that you will use less water, harvest your crops faster, and get better yields than when you plant them in soil. This is because when you can control the PH, nutrient solution, and water it helps improve the quality of your yields.
How to Grow Carrots Hydroponically Step by Step
The time it takes before your hydroponic carrots mature is about 70 days. Here is a step-by-step guide to growing hydroponic carrots.
1. Choose the hydroponic system
Growing carrots in hydroponics is not like other vegetables. Because they are root vegetables you can suspend them in a nutrient solution. Instead, feed them from the top. So what is the best hydroponic system for carrots?
The drip system is the best hydroponic system for carrots because it allows you to water the plants from the top. It is also easy to do automated continuous feeding so that you don’t have to keep checking on it to have to do it manually.
The only downside with the drip hydroponic system is that you have to do a monthly check and cleaning to prevent algae build up in the system. Another hydroponic system that works with carrots is the nutrient film technique.
2. Choose the seed variety and grow medium
The best way to grow carrots in hydroponics is to start from the seeds. You don’t have to use seedlings since the seeds germinate fast enough. Choose high-quality seeds that are suitable for hydroponics and are disease-resistant.
You will also need the growing trays, seeds, growing medium, and nutrient solution
For the growing medium, you can use coco coir, perlite, or vermiculite. For the nutrient solution go for a premixed solution so it can provide all the required nutrients.
3. Plant the seeds
Now it is time to set up the growing system. It is advisable to soak the growing medium in water for 24 hours to allow moisture in.
Once you are ready to plant the carrots, drain off the excess water. Fill the growing trays or pots with the growing medium that you choose halfway. Sprinkle the carrots seeds then cover with a little growing medium. You don’t have to presoak the seeds but there is no harm if you decide to do so.
Keep the seeds moist with water to allow them to germinate. That takes about 5 to 10 days with optimal temperatures. Once the seedlings grow you can separate them if they are too densely populated,
Also, the sprouts need about 12 hours of sunlight every day. So place the hydroponic system near a sunny spot or use grow lights or LED lights.
4. Maintaining the plants
With the drip hydroponic system, you don’t have to do much except for regular monitoring. Ensure that you change the nutrient solutions once a week to provide fresh and adequate nutrients for the carrots. At this time you can remove the thin plants to allow the stronger ones space to grow.
Watch out for pests or signs of disease for quick action to prevent damage to the plants
4. Harvesting
Carrots grown hydroponically take about two to three months to be ready for harvest. To know if they are mature the green foliage starts to become pale and start to tip over. You can also gently pull it out. If they come off easily then they are ready for harvest. Be careful as you harvest so as not to damage the roots.
FAQs
- Do carrots grow well in hydroponics?
You can grow carrots in hydroponics and get high-quality yields. However, you have to choose the variety that grows well in hydroponics because carrots have about four different varieties.
- Can you grow root vegetables with hydroponics?
You can grow root vegetables such as carrots in a hydroponic system as long as you provide the nutrients and the right conditions for their growth.
- What is the fastest growing plant in hydroponics?
The fastest growing plants in hydroponics include kale, spinach, parsley, and lettuce. Vegetables have a fast growth rate and make a healthy addition to your meals.
- Do plants grow faster in hydroponics or soil?
Plants grow faster in hydroponics because it is easier to control the nutrients and conditions unlike in soil. The hydroponic system allows faster uptake of nutrients which makes plants grow in about half the usual time when planted in soil.
Final Thoughts
It is possible to grow hydroponic carrots with minimal effort and higher yields than in a traditional garden.
You just need to get the hydroponics system and seeds and start your carrot indoor hydroponic garden. You can sow the seeds periodically to ensure that you harvest the carrots all year long
Ensure that you monitor the nutrient solution regularly and provide the best growing conditions for faster growth. Use this step-by-step guide to grow carrots hydroponically and get your first harvest of fresh and delicious carrots in 90 days or less. Happy gardening.
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