Introduction
There is a growing popularity and interest to learn what can be grown in aquaponics farming systems among the people particularly in cities. They wish to include aquaponic plants and leafy vegetables in their daily cuisine. As there are limited farming facilities in cities, daily vegetables have to travel a lot to reach every kitchen. It stimulates indoor aquaponics systems. The best part is, aquaponic plants require no pesticides, and plants grow better, faster, and tastier than those grown on farmland.
For some people, aquaponics is a hobby while some look at it as a business. Whatever you perceive, you need to understand the basics of aquaponics and the best plants for aquaponics, and how it works. This blog is not comprehensive but will serve you with all the basic information one should require about the concept of choosing the method and aquaponic plants. You can also sell your products through an aquaponic online Store in Hyderabad and raise your income.
What is Aquaponics Farming technique?
Aquaponics setup is a combination of aquaculture (which deals with the cultivation of aquatic animals such as fish, prawns, shrimp, etc in controlled environment like water tanks) and hydroponics- the method of growing plants in water. It does not require soil for the plants to grow. Here both support and supplement each other to complete the life cycle.
Aquaponic plants use the waste excreted by fish like ammonia and convert it into necessary nutrients. This means the plants help aquatic animals by purifying the contaminated water while taking necessary nutrients for themselves. Here we are eliminating two costs of harvesting,
1. The use of fertilizers
2. Reduced use of water for fish farming.
How does it work?
Unlike the traditional way of farming, aquaponics in India works on three elements- fish, plants, and bacteria. A pump carries contaminated water from the fish tank to the grow bed where the bacteria change ammonia into nitrates. Plants absorb these nitrates through the roots. Filtered water returns to the fish tank. This is a continuous process benefitting both.
Nutrition benefits of Aquaponic plants
- Healthy food
People prefer to produce from aquaponic plants as they are organic and are not going to affect their health.
- Healthy eating
Salads and sandwiches use raw vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, cabbage, etc. It is dangerous to use raw vegetables that are traditionally cultivated. It will have the contents of pesticides and it should be cooked before use. Anything raw, better use the aquaponic plants.
- Fresh produce
Having your aquaponics garden with the best plants for aquaponics gives you the choice to eat fresh produce, whether it’s vegetables or fish.
- Improved immunity and free from fatal diseases.
Increased use of fertilizers in conventional methods increases the chance of deadly diseases like Cancer. It also affects the functioning of the brain, liver, heart, etc and lowers immunity. Aquaponics avoids all these risk factors.
- Personal satisfaction
Beyond a hobby or an option to keep you engaged, creating a vegetable garden that gives you good, healthy, and exotic fruits and vegetables is a sense of satisfaction for the growers.
Choosing the best plants for Aquaponics
The limitation of aquaponics farms in India is that it is still in the infant stage, and we cannot grow every plant though most of the best plants for aquaponics vegetables, whether tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, Okra, Lettuce, Kale, Spinach, Strawberries, etc can be grown easily. Since there is no soil, it is better to plant those that don’t require stem support. We are here to give you the best plants for aquaponics gardens.
- Green Basil
Green Basil is a very popular vegetable and is widely used in India. It has round leaves and grows abundantly. There are more than 60 varieties of basil. It contains many vital vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants like beta carotene, lutein, etc.
- Purple Basil
Purple Basil is also a member of the basil family with the scientific name Ocimum basilicum. It got its name because of its deep purple-coloured leaves and stems. It is like green basil and the only difference is the eye-catching dark purple colour.
- Lollo Rosso Lettuce
Lollo Rosso Lettuce or red leaf lettuce is one of the best plants for aquaponics cultivation. It is a leafy vegetable in the daisy family. It is the powerhouse of vitamin A that helps maintain immunity, cell growth, eye vision, etc. it is also a powerhouse of antioxidants that keep your heart healthy.
- Green Lettuce
Green Lettuce is also a leafy vegetable like Lollo Rosso Lettuce. The health benefits of lettuce are it is rich in vitamins. It helps improve bone strength, better sleep, and improved vision, and hydrates the body well. It is majorly used in salads and sandwiches.
- Celery
Closely related to carrots, celery is the powerhouse of antioxidants and the best plants for aquaponics nurseries. It helps overall immunity and long-term health benefits. It is rich in fibre, contains very low calories, and is hence widely used for reducing body weight. It can be added to soups or salads of your choice
- Swiss chard
Swiss chard is a member of the beet family and grows well in both hot and cold conditions. It is a nutritious aquaponic plant with all the ingredients of Vitamin A, C, and K as well as large quantities of fibre, minerals, and phytonutrients.
- Parsley
Parsley is a flowering plant with a powerful disease-resistance capacity. It is a great source of nutrients and has many health benefits to control allergies, high blood pressure, and inflammatory diseases. It has a mildly bitter taste but pairs well with many recipes and is widely used as a fresh culinary herb.
- Tuscan kale
Tuscan kale belongs to the cabbage family and is the best plants for aquaponics nurseries. It is the most nutrient-rich food on the planet. It’s rich in antioxidants, Omega 3 fatty acids, and Vitamins C and K. It helps reduce cholesterol, decrease the risk of heart attack, and is a proven supplement to fight cancer.
Aquaponics System
The vertical aquaponic gardening technique is the best practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers using the best aquaponic plants and best aquaponic fish. You can reduce the installation cost of indoor fish aquaponics farms by using easily available metal or plastic packaging boxes and oil containers.
Aquaponics farm near me
While there are many benefits to running a fish aquaponics farm, it is not without any challenges. Many working in Hyderabad find it difficult to adjust their time. It also requires a certain level of skills and patience to understand and manage the whole system adequately. For them, the best option will be to choose an organic farm in Hyderabad that supplies the best aquaponics vegetables on demand.
Ponic One is one such aquaponics farm in Hyderabad that offers you the best organically produced leafy vegetables and fresh fish at a reasonable cost. Based in Manikonda, Ponic One gives you pesticides free pure natural vegetables that can be taken raw without any fear. With Ponic One, you are sure to get exotic and best plants for aquaponics daily.