Editing Hydroponics (section)

== Crops Grown ==
Hydroponic crops are chosen based on the market demand for a crop, environmental suitability, growth cycles, root structures, and plant growth characteristics that make them good candidates for soilless cultivation.{{sfn|Jones Jr.|2016|p={{pn|date=March 2025}}}} Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale are grown because they have a short growing cycle of as little as 30-50 days, have high market value, and require minimal space.<ref name=":9">{{Citation |last1=Asaduzzaman |first1=Md. |title=Influence of Soilless Culture Substrate on Improvement of Yield and Produce Quality of Horticultural Crops |date=2015-02-25 |work=Soilless Culture - Use of Substrates for the Production of Quality Horticultural Crops |editor-last=Asaduzzaman |editor-first=Md. |url=https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/48098 |access-date=2025-03-04 |publisher=InTech |language=en |doi=10.5772/59708 |isbn=978-953-51-1739-1 |last2=Saifullah |first2=Md. |last3=Mollick |first3=A.K.M. Salim Reza |last4=Hossain |first4=Md. Mokter |last5=Halim |first5=G.M.A. |last6=Asao |first6=Toshiki}}</ref>

Vegetable crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are also widely grown in hydroponics. These crops are successful due to a hydroponic system's ability to precisely control each crop's temperature, humidity, and light requirements. This control optimizes crop yield and maintains the quality and nutrition of the plants grown.{{sfn|Jones Jr.|2016|p={{pn|date=March 2025}}}}

Culinary herbs such as basil, mint, cilantro, rosemary, and parsley are popular to grow using hydroponics due to their demand from consumers and profitability. Most herbs also grow quickly, with a growth cycle of 25-40 days per harvest for herbs like basil, mint, and cilantro.<ref name=":7">{{cite book |doi=10.1201/9781003133254 |title=Hydroponic Food Production |date=2022 |last1=Resh |first1=Howard M. |isbn=978-1-003-13325-4 }}{{pn|date=March 2025}}</ref> Longer growing herbs such as rosemary can be harvested multiple times from the same plant. This eliminates the need for new seedlings and extends the production window for each plant.<ref name=":7" />