New to Hydroponics? Here Are the Best Varieties to Grow in Your Hydroponic Indoor Garden for Beginners

Getting Started with Your Indoor Hydroponic Garden

Are you new to hydroponics and wondering what varieties are best to grow if you've never gardened or don't have a green thumb? You've come to the right place. Figuring out which plants to start with is often overlooked by beginners, but it's super important if you want things to go smoothly and see your garden thrive.

Here’s a tip we share with everyone in our community: grow plants that match your experience level. If you’ve never grown in a hydroponic system before, stick with easy, low-maintenance varieties.

Trust me, choosing the right plants for your skill level is essential. And we say "new to hydroponics" because even if you've only grown in soil and never in hydroponics, you'll still want to stick to beginner-friendly plants at least for your first garden. Plants grow differently in hydroponics—it will surprise you. They also grow super fast, so you can replant your garden in 30-60 days.

If you're new to hydroponics and opt for a high-maintenance plant like a cucumber, you might find yourself feeling frustrated and ready to give up. These plants can cause a lot of problems and require more care. Instead, start with simpler plants to ensure success and build your confidence.

Beginner-Friendly Hydroponic Plants

When you're just starting out, focus on simple, beginner-friendly plants. What makes these varieties beginner-friendly? They’re low maintenance, resilient, and grow fast.

These plants can take a lot of abuse, bounce back quickly, and provide results within a few weeks. Think leafy greens and most herbs. You literally drop a seed, and they will do the rest and grow. They're super low-maintenance and grow like crazy with hardly any effort from you.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens, which are plants you grow for their leaves rather than their fruits, are a great starting point for hydroponic gardening beginners. They grow quickly, require minimal maintenance, don’t need much space, and thrive in a hydroponic setup. Some of the best leafy greens to start with include:

Lettuce

Lettuce is one of the best leafy greens to start with. They grow quickly, and you can enjoy fresh, crispy leaves in no time.

• Buttercrunch: Known for its tender leaves and buttery texture.
• Salad Bowl: Perfect for a continuous harvest; just keep snipping the leaves as they grow.
• Romaine: Crunchy and perfect for salads and sandwiches.

Spinach

Spinach is another great option. It’s fast-growing and highly nutritious. Here are a few varieties that are perfect for hydroponics:

• Bloomsdale: A classic variety that’s known for its rich flavor.
• Baby’s Leaf: Perfect for salads; tender and mild.
• Tyee: Highly resistant to disease and grows well in various conditions.

Kale

Kale is not only easy to grow but also very resilient. It grows fast and is packed with nutrients. Some good varieties include:

• Dwarf Blue Curled: Compact and perfect for small spaces.
• Red Russian: Known for its tender leaves and sweet flavor.
• Lacinato: Also known as Dinosaur Kale, it’s hearty and flavorful.

Arugula

Arugula adds a spicy kick to your salads and grows quickly in hydroponic systems. Consider these varieties:

• Rocket: Classic arugula with a peppery flavor.
• Astro: Milder taste, perfect for those new to arugula.
• Sylvetta: Smaller leaves but packs a punch in flavor.

There are plenty of other leafy greens that are great for beginners. Pretty much anything you eat the leaves of can be grown easily in a hydroponic system.

Herbs

Herbs are another fantastic option for beginners. They add flavor to your meals and are generally easy to grow. So, what makes a plant an herb? Herbs are plants grown for their leaves, seeds, or flowers, which are used for flavoring food, medicine, or fragrances. For beginners, it’s best to choose herbs that don’t require flowering to be useful.

Basil

Basil thrives in hydroponic systems and grows quickly. It’s perfect for adding to dishes like pasta, salads, and pizzas.

• Genovese: Classic Italian basil, perfect for pesto.
• Thai Basil: Adds a unique flavor to Asian dishes.
• Lemon Basil: Citrusy flavor, great for salads and drinks.

Mint

Mint is very hardy and can be harvested frequently. It’s perfect for teas, desserts, and garnishes.

• Peppermint: Classic mint flavor, great for teas.
• Spearmint: Milder than peppermint, perfect for mojitos.
• Chocolate Mint: Unique variety with a hint of chocolate flavor.

Cilantro

Cilantro is easy to grow and great for adding to dishes. It’s a staple in many cuisines around the world.

• Santo: Slow-bolting variety, perfect for continuous harvest.
• Calypso: High-yielding and bolt-resistant.
• Leisure: Great flavor and slow to bolt.

Other Herbs

• Parsley: Resilient and easy to maintain. Varieties like Curly and Italian Flat-Leaf are popular.
• Thyme: Grows well in hydroponic systems and is very aromatic. Varieties like English Thyme and Lemon Thyme are great choices.
• Dill: Quick-growing and flavorful. Varieties like Bouquet and Fernleaf are excellent.
• Lemon Balm: Hardy and great for teas and flavoring.

Building Confidence and Skills with Easy Hydroponic Plants for Beginners

Once you've grown a few gardens and experienced some success, you'll feel more confident in your abilities. At this point, you can start exploring more complex and time-consuming plants. However, it's crucial to build up your skills gradually. Just because hydroponics can simplify gardening doesn't mean you won't need to learn about pollination, pruning, and other plant care tasks.

By starting with easy-to-grow varieties, you can avoid the frustration that comes from trying to tackle too much too quickly. Success with simple plants will give you the knowledge and confidence to take on more challenging plants in the future.

Plants that are harder to grow usually require more work due to flowering and fruiting needs. Flowering plants need different nutrient ratios, pollination, sometimes pruning, and a lot more time and maintenance. When you feel more experienced, you can step up your game and try your hand at plants like tomatoes, beans, peppers, and special cucumber and pea varieties. These require more attention and care, but with a bit of experience, you'll find it much easier to handle.

If you're feeling like a gardening pro, you can even venture into the realm of melons, small squashes, and cucumber zucchinis. But fair warning, these varieties are a bit trickier to handle, especially with their male and female flowers, so they're best left to the seasoned gardeners.

Conclusion

Starting your hydroponic garden with the right varieties can make all the difference. Focus on leafy greens and herbs when you're just starting out, and gradually move on to more challenging plants as you gain experience. By doing so, you'll set yourself up for success and enjoy a thriving indoor garden.

We'd love to hear from you! Share your experiences, ask questions, and let us know what you want to learn about next in the comments below. If you want to learn more about hydroponics, we have a fantastic free resource: Hydroponic Learning Hub. Click here to explore!

Happy gardening!