Hydroponic Crop Library: What to Grow & How to Grow It
Find the right plants for your Tower Garden, hydroponic or aeroponic system.
Wondering what you can grow in a Tower Garden, hydroponic system or aeroponic garden? You're in the right place.
We've grown everything from lettuce and basil to tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, squash and melons without soil. But different plants have very different needs, and choosing the right crop for your space can make growing a whole lot easier.
🌱 Start here: Browse by crop type, then look at where each crop grows best, the temperatures it prefers and whether you'll need to think about things like pollination or plant support.
You don't need to grow everything at once. Pick crops you actually like to eat, learn what they need and build from there.
Explore the Crop Library
Choose a crop type to get started.
🥬 Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are some of the easiest and fastest crops to grow hydroponically. They're great for beginners, don't require pollination for harvest and are excellent choices for indoor growing. While many prefer cooler weather, variety makes a big difference. Several leafy greens can also handle warmer growing conditions.
Lettuce
One of the easiest crops to grow hydroponically. Lettuce grows quickly, stays compact and works well indoors or outside. Although lettuce generally prefers cooler temperatures, heat-tolerant varieties can extend the growing season and can even be grown through summer in the right conditions.
Arugula
A fast-growing leafy green that works especially well in hydroponic systems. Arugula can tolerate warmer conditions better than many people expect.
Swiss Chard
Colorful, productive and capable of producing leaves over a long harvest period. Swiss chard is also one of the leafy greens that handles heat particularly well.
Kale
A productive leafy green that can be harvested repeatedly. Kale is commonly associated with cool weather, but it can also grow successfully in warmer conditions.
Mustard Greens
Fast-growing greens with plenty of flavor. Mustard greens grow well hydroponically and can continue producing in warmer conditions.
More Leafy Greens
Spinach, broccoli rabe and baby greens can also be grown hydroponically. Their preferred temperatures and growing times vary, so choosing the right crop for your season makes a difference.
🌿 Herbs
Herbs are some of our favorite plants to grow hydroponically. They're well suited to Tower Gardens and other hydroponic or aeroponic systems, and they're especially useful for indoor gardens because most stay relatively compact and don't require pollination for the leaves we harvest.
Growing Herbs Hydroponically
Most culinary herbs are beginner-friendly and can be grown indoors or outside. Their temperature preferences vary considerably, though. Basil loves warmth, while herbs such as cilantro generally perform better when conditions are cooler.
Herbs you can grow: Basil · Cilantro · Parsley · Dill · Mint · Oregano · Thyme · Chives · Sage · Rosemary
🍅 Fruiting Crops
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other fruiting crops can be incredibly productive in hydroponic and aeroponic systems. They generally need more light and space than leafy greens and herbs, and some need pollination or additional plant support.
🍅 Tomatoes
From tiny micro-dwarfs to sprawling full-size plants, tomatoes grow extremely well hydroponically. Compact varieties are especially useful for indoor gardens and smaller spaces.
🌶️ Peppers
Sweet peppers, hot peppers and compact varieties can all thrive hydroponically when they have plenty of light and warmth.
🥒 Cucumbers
Cucumbers are fast-growing and productive. Variety selection matters, particularly when growing indoors where compact and self-pollinating varieties can make growing easier.
🍆 Eggplant
Eggplant loves warm growing conditions and performs well hydroponically. Compact varieties can make it much easier to manage in vertical and indoor systems.
🍓 Strawberries
Compact plants and fruit that hangs outside the growing system make strawberries a popular choice for Tower Gardens and other vertical growing systems.
🫛 Beans & Peas
Beans and peas both grow well hydroponically, but they prefer different temperatures. Bush varieties can save space, while climbing varieties need support.
🥒 Squash & Zucchini
Squash and zucchini can grow very well hydroponically, but mature plants can get large. Give them enough room and plan for pollination when needed.
🍉 Melons
Yes, you can grow melons hydroponically. They need plenty of light and space, and the vines and developing fruit may need additional support.
🥦 Other Vegetables
Hydroponic growing isn't limited to leafy greens and fruiting crops. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery and other vegetables can also grow successfully without soil.
🥦 Broccoli, Cauliflower & Cabbage
These larger cool-weather crops can all be grown hydroponically. They take more room and time than most leafy greens, so plant placement matters.
Celery
Celery enjoys the steady access to water that hydroponic systems provide. It has a longer growing period than many leafy crops but is very manageable without soil.
How Do You Choose What to Grow?
One of the most common questions we hear is simply, “What can I grow?”
The answer is a long list, but that doesn't necessarily help you decide what belongs in your garden.
Before choosing a crop, think about:
- Your available light. Fruiting crops generally need more light than leafy greens and herbs.
- Your growing temperature. Variety matters. Some crops and varieties handle heat much better than others.
- Mature plant size. A full-size cucumber or tomato can take up considerably more room than basil or lettuce.
- Pollination. If you're growing indoors, some fruiting crops may need your help.
- Support. Vining and heavy fruiting plants may need cages, trellises or other support.
- What you'll actually eat. Growing something just because you can isn't nearly as rewarding as regularly harvesting something your family loves.
For an overview of some of the easiest crops and the different types of plants you can grow, see our Best Plants for Hydroponics: What Can You Grow? guide.
Growing Hydroponic Crops Indoors
Growing indoors changes which varieties make the most sense.
You aren't just asking whether a tomato or cucumber will grow hydroponically. You also need to ask whether the mature plant will fit beneath your lights without shading everything around it.
Leafy greens and herbs are excellent choices for indoor systems. Fruiting crops can also grow very well indoors, but compact varieties are often easier to manage beneath grow lights.
If indoor growing is your goal, see our Best Compact Plants for Indoor Tower Gardens guide for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and other crops that are easier to manage in limited space.
More Hydroponic Growing Resources
Choosing the plant is only the beginning. These guides cover the basics that apply across many different crops.
🌱 Seeds & Seedlings
Learn about starting seeds, rockwool, seedlings and getting young plants ready for your system.
Seeds & Seedlings Guide →💧 Water
Water quality matters when your plants depend on it for everything they need.
Tower Garden Water Guide →🌿 Nutrients
Learn how hydroponic plants get the mineral nutrients they would normally obtain from soil.
Tower Garden Nutrients Guide →💨 What Is Aeroponics?
Learn how aeroponics works and how it differs from other types of hydroponic growing.
Read Aeroponics 101 →🥬 Best Plants for Hydroponics
Not sure where to start? Compare leafy greens, herbs and fruiting crops.
See What You Can Grow →
