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The best plants for a new aquaponics system are usually leafy greens and culinary herbs: they tend to need fewer nutrients than fruiting crops and suit a range of setups. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and other fruiting plants can also grow well, but they are better choices once the system can supply their greater nutrient needs. The 20 crops below are practical options, not a universal performance ranking; the right choice depends on your grow-bed type, fish, climate and water conditions.
20 plants to grow in aquaponics
Oklahoma State University Extension identifies culinary herbs and leafy greens as good choices for beginning growers, while FarmHub notes that more than 150 kinds of plants have been grown in aquaponic systems. These 20 are grouped by general nutrient demand and suitability, rather than ranked by yield or success rate. Individual results vary with the system, variety and local conditions.
Leafy greens and herbs: a practical starting group
- Lettuce: A beginner-friendly leafy crop commonly grown in nutrient film technique (NFT), deep water culture (DWC) and media beds.
- Basil: A warm-season culinary herb suited to media beds, NFT and DWC.
- Swiss chard: A leafy crop with relatively modest nutrient requirements.
- Pak choi (bok choy): A leafy green often recommended for newer systems.
- Watercress: A leafy herb that can suit aquaponic growing conditions.
- Parsley: An herb with low nutrient demand.
- Mint: An herb with low nutrient demand; keep its vigorous growth contained and manageable.
- Coriander (cilantro): An herb with low nutrient demand.
- Chives: An herb with low nutrient demand.
- Salad rocket (arugula): A leafy crop with low nutrient demand.
Legumes and brassicas: consider system capacity
- Peas: A legume with low nutrient demand.
- Beans: A legume with low nutrient demand.
- Kale: A brassica with medium nutrient demand.
- Broccoli: A medium-demand brassica; Oklahoma State includes it among crops that can suit lower or normal stocking levels.
- Cabbage: A brassica with medium nutrient demand.
Fruiting crops: plan for higher nutrient demand
- Tomatoes: A higher-demand crop. Provide support and ensure the system can supply sufficient nutrients.
- Cucumbers: A higher-demand crop that needs room to grow and reliable water flow.
- Peppers: A higher-demand crop; support may be needed, along with adequate nutrient supply.
- Eggplant: A higher-demand fruiting crop best suited to an established system.
- Strawberries: A higher-demand crop; check that the variety and growing system are a suitable match.
Choose plants that match your system
Start with nutrient demand and system maturity
Leafy greens and herbs are generally a sensible first planting when a system is new or has modest nutrient input. Fruiting crops require more nutrients, and their needs may change at different growth stages. Fish waste alone should not be assumed to meet every crop’s needs in every system; match planting plans to the nutrients actually available.
Match the crop to the grow bed
Media beds can support a broader mix of crops, including larger-rooted plants when the bed is deep enough. Oklahoma State recommends trellised crops such as tomatoes, melons and peppers for ground-level media-based systems. NFT and DWC commonly suit low-growing leafy greens and herbs. Large roots and bulbs can be difficult to grow in NFT and DWC; FarmHub recommends deep media beds or wicking-bed arrangements for root crops. In media beds, carrots, potatoes and radishes may become misshapen depending on the growing medium.
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- One 3" pvc gravel shield x 10" High and SLOTTED One 2" pvc NO CLOG bell x 8" high with cap and pull handle One pair male and female threaded adapters with "o"ring to match for the bulkhead adapter Two 3/4" 90s One 3 1/2" and one 4" and one 6" piece of 3/4" pvc pipe One 3/4" to 1 1/4" adapter for the very important "Bernoulli effect"
Account for shared water conditions
Plants, fish and beneficial microbes share the same water, so crop choice must fit the conditions the whole system can tolerate. Oklahoma State advises pairing warm-water fish with warm-season crops and cool-water species with winter crops. FAO’s 2021 aquaponics guidance identifies dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, total nitrogen and alkalinity as key water-quality parameters. It gives broad management reference values of 5 mg/litre dissolved oxygen, pH 6–7 and temperature 18–30 °C; these are not universal prescriptions for every fish, plant or system.
Plan staggered plantings
Plant short-cycle greens in stages alongside longer-term crops rather than sowing everything at once. Staggered planting and harvesting can help maintain a steadier rhythm of plant nutrient uptake and animal waste production.
Rank #2
- What you get is: One 2" pvc gravel shield x 5" High and SLOTTED for maximum drain and maximum One 1 1/4" pvc NO CLOG bell x 4" high with cap and pull handle One pair male and female threaded adapters with "o"ring to match for the bulkhead adapter Two 1/2" 90s One 2" and one 3" and one 4" piece of 1/2" pvc pipe One 1/2"
Sources and crop-selection limits
Oklahoma State University Extension and FarmHub support the crop examples and general nutrient-demand groupings above. Their guidance does not establish a controlled ranking of the 20 plants or universal yield comparisons. Check variety-specific requirements and local conditions before planting, especially for fruiting crops and crops with substantial root or space needs.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Durable & Corrosion-proof Material: Our 5-gallon DWC hydroponic grow system features PP planting buckets that are sturdy, durable, corrosion-proof, and temperature-resistant. Perfect for long-term use without deformation, ideal for plant hydroponics.
- Top Drip Irrigation System: The DWC hydroponic bucket is equipped with a unique top drip design for precise irrigation, saving water and effort. It allows for easy water replenishment to the roots during the plant growth stage, ensuring optimal water absorption.
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- User-friendly Design: Our hydroponic bucket includes sealing rings to prevent water leakage. Pre-cut water level tubes of uniform length avoid leaks, and a check valve to prevent backflow, with high-quality valves for better sealing.
- Complete DWC Hydroponic Kit: This hydroponics growing system includes PP planting buckets, check valves, air pump, black feed air tubing, air stones, sealing rings, water level tubes, drip irrigation tubes, water inlet tubes, bags of expanded clay, air flow regulators, and assembly instruction, making installation very convenient.
Rank #3
- What you get is: One 4" pvc rugged gravel shield 14" tall (slotted rather than drilled works much better) One 3" pvc bell x 12" high with cap and blue pull handle. One pair male and female threaded adapters with "o"ring to match for the bulkhead adapter Two 1" 90s One 7" and one 6" and one 4" pieces of 1" pvc pipe (you can swap the 7" and 6" for media depth changes) One 1" to 2" adapter for the VERY important 2-1 "Bernoulli effect" (most are NOT the proven 2-1 ratio) Two water level "Extenders
- Oklahoma State University Extension: Small-Scale Aquaponics
- Oklahoma State University Extension: Aquaponics
- FAO: Small-scale aquaponic food production
- FarmHub: Plant selection
- Technical guide to common aquaponic plants
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