Farmers who grow their crops hydroponically have done their job successfully. Pesticide-free production, soil-free growing conditions, limited or no insect entry, efficient use of resources, and a regulated environment make hydroponics more profitable than traditional agriculture.

What crops to avoid in hydroponics?

Although some may argue that any crop can be produced in hydroponic systems, that doesn’t mean it should. Onions, radishes, beets, potatoes and other root vegetables are unlikely to be lucrative. These crops rarely grow efficiently in a hydroponic system, and even if you find a system that grows efficiently, you probably won’t be able to compete with traditional or even organic farmers who grow them in the ground.

Top 3 Types of Cash Crops to Grow Hydroponically

The following three crops, on the other hand, can be produced hydroponically and, if grown consistently and of good quality, should offer a profit opportunity in most markets. It’s worth pointing out that if one or more of these crops has already been successfully produced hydroponically in your area, you may need to carve out a specialty.

Mushroom

Mushrooms are a profitable crop no matter how they are produced, but growing them hydroponically makes you stand out from the crowd. Mushrooms are not planted with roots, although they can be grown “hydroponically” if the term is used loosely.

They need moisture and are grown in a soilless medium. They can be grown using a fully prepared kit or by growing mycelia from the start. They don’t need a lot of light and, unlike other crops produced indoors, don’t use light for anything other than a trigger to start fruiting because they don’t photosynthesise.

Strawberries

The fruit is generally a hit at farmers’ markets, and many food retailers cannot keep up with in-season demand. You can gain a market advantage by growing strawberries hydroponically, if not all year round, then at least for the 10 or so months out of the year that conventionally grown strawberries don’t gain market share.

Hydroponic growers have reported yields ranging from less than field-grown types to up to four times more productive. The type of strawberry grown represents a large part of the wide range. Some types are more suitable for hydroponics than others, so do some research before choosing. Some indoor growers have had remarkable success using Red Gauntlet.

Besides the ability to handle climatic conditions and the absence of soil pests, another advantage of growing strawberries hydroponically is that they can be grown vertically, many tall plants.

Basil

Herbs are a very profitable crop. Basil is one of the few herbs that can be grown successfully in hydroponics. Basil is sensitive to freezing temperatures, so it makes sense to grow it hydroponically because, like strawberries, it’s only accessible for a few months a year if grown in the ground. Compared to most other crops, it can also fetch a hefty dollar amount per pound.

Basil grown in a hydroponic system offers the added benefit of enhanced taste. It contains 20-40% more oils than field-grown basil, according to several academic studies.

You can expand your market by growing many different varieties of basil (there are over 100). There are giant leaf basils, variegated leaf basils, and a variety of flavors and textures to choose from.