How to grow arugula hydroponically at home

Arugula is a plant that has both its loyal fans and ardent opponents. To some, its taste seems exquisitely nutty, to others it resembles a bitter radish.

It is a spice and a salad at the same time. Among the advantages are many useful qualities from the point of view of medicine. Arugula is a natural energy drink, antibiotic, dietary supplement and a storehouse of vitamins. It has a wide range of effects.

Can arugula be grown hydroponically

Arugula is grown outdoors, in a greenhouse, even in a pot at home. Arugula has proven itself well as a hydroponic plant.

The plant loves light, warmth and moisture. As you know, these are the three whales that support all hydroponics. Arugula leaves grown by progressive crop production are less bitter. When created in ideal conditions, they turn out to be more juicy and tender.

The advantages of hydroponics over simple soil cultivation for arugula is that by its nature it tends to absorb nitrates and heavy metal salts from the environment, soil, moisture. 

A vegetable garden in your own apartment minimizes the impact of negative factors. As a result, we will have an ecologically clean, fresh and healthy product.

Arugula yield up to 4 kg from 1m2 sown area.

The essence of the flow-through method

Arugula can be grown in different ways: on platforms, in the nutrient layer, by irrigation. The most common method is flow-through.

It is easy to operate, economical compared to others and is suitable for plants with a short growing season.

Its essence lies in the constant circulation of liquid through the gutters in which the plants are embedded. The nutrient solution is in a very thin layer, while having a large area of ​​contact with air. Thus, self-saturation of the liquid with oxygen from the outside is ensured. 

Oxygen enters the liquid through friction, which creates a flow. This is a unique invention of nature itself. Indeed, according to the same technology, the water in the river is saturated with oxygen.

The method was invented in England in the 1960s and is still the most popular in Europe as well as Australia.

This system has certain advantages and some disadvantages:

Pros Cons Efficiency – low consumption of electricity, solution, low cost of equipment. The need for periodic replacement of the solution. The effectiveness of the dressing. Accuracy of nutrient solution formulation. Active rapid growth. High-quality selection of fertilizers

How to grow arugula hydroponically

Both annual and biennial varieties are suitable for hydroponics. 

Category Variety name Ripening period (days) Early ripening Poker, Rococo 25 Mid-ripening Corsica, Sicily, Euphoria 35 Biennial Solitaire 25

Seeds for seedlings are grown separately, sown in small containers, covered with transparent plexiglass or polyethylene to create a greenhouse effect. Then, at the age of two weeks, at the stage of true leaf formation, the strongest of the seedlings dive into small pots, which are placed in a flow-through hydroponic system.

The pots should have drainage holes through which the roots will come into contact with the nutrient solution. Inside, a substrate is placed from a mixture of coarse-grained peat with perlite, mineral wool or coconut flakes, expanded clay. 

The substrate is not strongly tamped, it is moistened before planting.

Arugula does not require a lot of fertilization. Excess chemicals will accumulate in green leaves, which is not desirable.

But arugula will require a lot of moisture, irrigation, spraying, air humidification is necessary. In dry climates, the leaves will be too bitter. Recommended air humidity 70-75%.

Illumination is carried out for 12-16 hours, using HPS lamps, illumination up to 10 thousand lux. 

Maintained room temperature from +160From night to +200With day.

When the leaves reach food ripeness, they are not cut; it is not necessary to remove the entire plant as a whole. It is enough to manually pick as many shoots as necessary for cooking. Thus, the harvesting period is extended over a long period, which is very convenient and practical.

Equipment selection

The choice of equipment for hydroponics is quite large. It is easy for an untrained hydroponicist to get confused among the many different systems and accessories.

First, you need to think carefully about the purposes for which you plan to use the equipment, where to place it, and most importantly, calculate the budget for these purposes.

The initial costs will soon pay off, and careful study of the topic will help to avoid mistakes.

How to make hydroponics for arugula

You can make your own hydroponic arugula growing system. The sequence of actions is simple:

  • They take ordinary PVC pipes as a basis, connect them with fastening fittings.
  • Drill holes for seedlings with a diameter of 55 mm at a distance of 100-120 mm.
  • The gutters are placed on special supports, observing a slope of about 1% for better water circulation.
  • The nutrient solution is let through the pipes with the help of a compressor. 
  • Install lighting and heating devices as needed.

Preparing the nutrient solution

The correct composition of the solution is the foundation of hydroponics. Water from the mains is filtered for it. The nutrient solution is changed every three weeks, as plant residues accumulate in it, polluting the system and causing root rot.

All green plants do not like highly concentrated formulations. Arugula requires a pH neutral solution. The most suitable composition for him is a nutritional mixture for salads. 

To speed up the appearance of greenery, growth stimulants can be added a couple of times.

Arugula grown in hydroponics will save you from working with the soil, provide a complex of useful vitamins and give a lot of new sensations and emotions. Now that you have started growing at home, you can only go to the dacha to relax.

Anna Evans

Author ✓ Farmer

View all posts by Anna Evans →
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