One of the problems that traditional farmers face every day is the delayed harvest times. In a world where large quantities of products need to be produced in much shorter time intervals, there is a clear need for faster solutions.
And the fact that hydroponic plants grow quickly and do not require soil has contributed to making hydroponic growing the ideal way for growers to grow.
Did you know that some hydroponic plants can go from seed to harvest in just a few weeks? Spinach grown hydroponically can mature in 4-7 weeks, and tomatoes can be harvested in 2-4 months.
Are hydroponic plants amazing?
Let’s come together and learn how long is a hydroponic grow cycle. And you can better establish your vertical farm or home hydroponic vegetable garden quickly and make your planting plan.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Hydroponic Vegetables?
If you are also eager to get faster results in gardening, you can choose plant species with short growing cycles to get faster harvests. Lettuce, spinach, and tomato, these plants usually reach maturity in as little as 1-3 months.
If you want to take your time and want to be productive in the long term, plants with a medium growth cycle are ideal for you.
The time it takes to grow hydroponic vegetables, on the other hand, varies depending on a variety of factors such as the type of vegetable, the hydroponic system, the environment, and the harvesting stage necessary.
Hydroponic vegetables often grow faster than soil-grown vegetables due to optimized growing conditions and nutrient availability.
How Long to Grow Lettuce Hydroponically?
The growth cycle of hydroponic lettuce usually takes 1-2 months.
Early maturing lettuce varieties have a maturity cycle of 20-30 days, medium maturing ones 30-35 days, and later maturing ones take 35-40 days.
Germination: 3-5 days. Seeds germinate rapidly at the right temperature and humidity.
Sprouting: 1 week. The root system starts to grow, which is a critical stage for the growth of the lettuce. You should provide a cool and moist environment for lettuce.
Development: 2 weeks. The leaves grow rapidly and the stems elongate. Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus need to be supplemented during this period to promote growth.
Maturity: 5-7 days. The stems reach 15-30 cm in height and the leaves also reach maximum. This means that the lettuces are fully ripe and ready for harvesting.
How Long Does Spinach Take to Grow Hydroponically?
The growth cycle of hydroponic spinach is about 4-7 weeks.
The ripening cycle of early maturing spinach varieties is 3-4 weeks, medium maturing varieties in 4-5 weeks and later maturing varieties in 5-6 weeks.
In case of poor environmental conditions, spinach ripening time will be extended accordingly.
Germination: 3-5 days. At the right temperature and humidity, seeds germinate rapidly.
Sprouting: 1 week. The roots begin to grow, which is an important stage in spinach growth and requires the maintenance of a cool, moist environment.
Development: 3-4 weeks. During this stage, leaves grow rapidly as stems elongate, requiring a considerable amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.
Maturity: 7-10 days. When the leaves reach their maximum size and the stalks are fully extended, the spinach has matured and is ready to harvest.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Kale Hydroponically?
The hydroponic kale growth cycle usually takes 2-4 months.
The maturity cycle of early maturing kale varieties is 60-75 days, medium maturing ones are 75-85 days, and later maturing ones take 85-90 days.
Germination period: 3-5 days. At a suitable temperature and humidity, kale seeds germinate swiftly.
Sprouting: 3 weeks. The root system begins to grow quickly, which is a vital stage for kale growth.
Development: 4-6 weeks. The heads and leaves grow rapidly at this stage, and the leaves will continue to grow and wrap around the heads. Growers need to provide kale with a large number of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Maturity: 10-15 days. The heads have reached their maximum size and the leaves are starting to loosen. This means that the kale is mature and ready to be harvested.
How Long Does Basil Take to Grow Hydroponically?
The growth cycle of hydroponic basil is about 2-3 months.
Early ripening basil varieties mature in 45-55 days, medium ripening in 55-65 days, and later ripening in 65-70 days.
Germination: 3-5 days. Seeds germinate rapidly and produce leaf buds.
Sprouting: 2 weeks. As with other plants, the roots of basil begin to grow rapidly during this period.
Development: 4-5 weeks. The stem and leaves of basil at this stage grow rapidly. It needs a lot of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Because the leaves are growing at this stage, the stems will also elongate accordingly.
Maturity: The white flowers will appear at this time, and you can start harvesting the leaves. Otherwise, you can wait until the end of the flowering period and harvest them together.
How Long to Grow Hydroponic Cilantro?
The growth cycle of hydroponic cilantro usually takes 25-40 days.
Early maturing cilantro varieties mature in about 25-30 days and medium maturing varieties in about 30-35 days.
Germination: 2-3 days. The seeds germinate rapidly under suitable temperatures and humidity.
Sprouting: 1-2 weeks. The roots start to grow rapidly, and the cilantro needs enough oxygen and humidity at this time.
Development: 2-3 weeks. Cilantro grows rapidly and the leaves keep growing. Cilantro needs a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients to promote growth during this period.
Maturity: 1 week. 3-4 weeks old cilantro can be harvested. At this time, the cilantro has reached its maximum size and is the most nutritious and flavorful.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Peppers Hydroponically?
The growth cycle of hydroponic peppers is about 11-15 weeks.
Early maturing pepper varieties mature in about 70-90 days, medium maturing varieties in about 90-110 days, and later maturing varieties in 110-120 days.
Germination: 7-14 days. Peppers seeds germinate rapidly at the right temperature and humidity.
Sprouting: 2-4 weeks. The root system starts to grow. At this critical stage, peppers need warm and moist conditions.
Development: 6-8 weeks. The stems grow rapidly, the leaves continue to grow, and flower buds and pepper fruits continue to grow.
Maturity: 2-3 weeks. The stems reach their maximum height and the leaves reach their maximum size. The pepper fruits are ready for harvesting when they are ripe.
How Long Does Tomato Take to Grow in Hydroponics?
The growth cycle of hydroponic tomatoes is usually 2-4 months.
Early maturing tomato varieties take about 2-3 months to mature, medium maturing varieties take about 3 months, and late maturing varieties take about 3-4 months.
Germination: 5-7 days. Seeds germinate rapidly at the right temperature and humidity.
Sprouting: 3-5 weeks. Tomato roots grow rapidly in a warm and moist environment.
Development: 2-3 months. The main stem and branch stem grow rapidly and the buds keep opening while the tomatoes continue to ripen.
Maturity: When the main stem reaches its maximum height and the majority of the tomatoes are fully ripe, full harvesting can begin.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Cucumbers Hydroponically?
The growth cycle of hydroponic cucumbers is about 2-3 months.
Early ripening cucumber varieties mature in about 40-50 days, medium ripening varieties in about 50-60 days, and later ripening varieties in about 60 days.
Germination: 3-7 days. Seeds germinate rapidly at the right temperature and humidity.
Sprouting: 1-2 weeks. The root system starts to grow and needs a warm and moist environment. This is a critical stage of cucumber growth.
Development: 4-6 weeks. The main stem and leaves grow rapidly, while the flower buds keep opening and the cucumbers keep maturing.
Maturity: The main stem has reached its full height, and most of the cucumbers are fully mature and ready for harvesting.
Things You Need to Know
Do you already know the growing cycle of growing vegetables hydroponically?
The above shared growing time of hydroponic vegetables is for reference only. The actual growth cycle will vary depending on environmental factors.
- Temperature: The higher the growth temperature, the faster the growth rate. Maintain the plant at the optimum temperature to minimize the growth cycle.
- Light: Adequate light and sustained durations of light can help to speed growth. If you’re growing plants indoors, you can use LED grow lights to help them grow.
- Varieties: Different varieties of vegetables have different growth cycles. Early maturing varieties, medium maturing varieties, and later maturing varieties all have different growing periods.
- Nutrient Solution: Nutrient solutions rich in nitrogen and other nutrients can speed up the growth of plants, especially leafy vegetables.
- Hydroponic Systems: Different hydroponic systems have different hydroponic modes of operation, different nutrient flow rates, different root development spaces, and different water temperature and light control.
- Others: Regular fluid changes, increased oxygen, and the use of rooting agents can also shorten the growth cycle.
Jayes
As a Digital Marketing Manager at AUXGROW, Jayes combines a passion for hydroponic systems and expertise in LED grow lights. With hands-on experience and a deep understanding, Jayes guides you through the world of sustainable cultivation.
