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Hydroponic Vegetable Gardening – New in 2026!

Grow vegetables year round!

plants grown in buckets
Hydroponics with grow lights.
Photo © Joe Larsen
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Join Extension Master Gardener Joe Larsen to learn about three types of hydroponic systems – deep water culture, nutrient film, and aeroponic – and the pros and cons of growing vegetables in them. Learn best practices for growing specific types of vegetables hydroponically as well as how to troubleshoot common problems. Examples for setting up your own DIY hydroponic systems will be presented..

Zoom session, recorded January 30, 2026

Video of Presentation

Chapter Breaks

DIY Hydroponics Systems – click on images to enlarge

Aeroponics

A plastic container set up for DIY aeroponics, with a white framework for plant support, placed on a concrete surface with additional equipment in the background.
List of equipment needed to start an aeroponics system, including storage crate, grow baskets, PVC pipes, water pump, sprayer nozzles, grow light, timers, fans, and nutrients.

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

An example of a DIY deep water culture system featuring two healthy green plants in black buckets, illuminated by a grow light, with equipment and a fan visible in a reflective grow tent.
List of equipment needed to set up a DIY Deep Water Culture system, including items like 5-gallon buckets, hydroponic lids, grow lights, timers, and nutrients.
A DIY DWC (Deep Water Culture) hydroponics system displaying healthy green plants and seedlings in yellow plastic containers.
List of equipment needed to start a DIY Deep Water Culture system, including a large storage crate, drill bits, grow baskets, grow light, timers, fans, air pump, nutrients, and pH solutions.

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

A DIY NFT hydroponic system featuring multiple PVC pipes with holes, placed on a wooden table. The setup includes water tubes and is situated outdoors.
List of equipment needed to start an NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponic system, including PVC pipes, grow baskets, tubing, and growing materials.

Vegetable Specific Tips for Successful Hydroponic Growing – click on images to enlarge

An informational graphic about growing Brassicas, including broccoli, kale, and cabbage, featuring details on growing systems, nutrient requirements, and environmental conditions.
Infographic on bush beans cultivation, detailing systems, environmental conditions, and care instructions alongside an image of bush bean plants in a hydroponic setup.
Infographic on bush beans cultivation, detailing systems, environmental conditions, and care instructions alongside an image of bush bean plants in a hydroponic setup.
Image of a presentation slide about growing herbs (Basil, Mint, Parsley) indoors with details on systems, nutrient requirements, and care tips.
Informational graphic about growing lettuce with details on systems, nutrient ratios, and harvesting instructions.
Indoor pepper plants growing under LED lights in a hydroponic setup, with care instructions and nutrient ratios displayed.
A presentation slide about strawberries featuring data on hydroponic systems, optimal conditions, nutrient ratios, light requirements, and harvesting time, alongside an image of strawberry plants growing indoors.
A presentation slide on Swiss Chard cultivation, featuring key growing conditions and nutrient requirements. The slide includes images of Swiss Chard plants growing in hydroponic systems.
Slide discussing tomato cultivation, featuring tips on systems like DWC and Aeroponics, nutrient ratios, and ideal growing conditions, along with a photo of tomato plants under grow lights.

Resources

Local Hydroponic Farms/Greenhouses