HYDROPONIC BASIL AND CILANTRO
“For those with
limited space, basil and
cilantro can be grown as
microgreens, harvested
in the seedling stage after
the development of two
to four leaves.”
Purple Ruffles basil and green Nufar F1 basil produce
an attractive display.
Cilantro is particularly prone to
infestations of aphids and whiteflies,
which can become major pests if not
controlled early. Mites may also be an
issue under hot, dry conditions, while
high humidity can predispose plants
to Botrytis and bacterial leaf spots.
Maintaining good airflow around the
base of dense cilantro clumps assists
with disease prevention, while sprays
containing neem are beneficial to
break the life cycle of many insect pests
of cilantro.
S ystems
Both basil and cilantro can be grown
in a range of hydroponic systems, the
most common being NFT, DFT (deep
flow technique), aeroponics and shallow substrate systems using coco or
rockwool mediums. Float, raft, pond
or raceway solution culture systems can
also be used, provided the depth of the
nutrient solution is at least 5 in.
Temperatures of at least 68˚F are
required for both herbs with moderate
light levels for recently germinated
seedlings increasing to high light
levels as the plants mature. Light
and temperature, as well as nutrient
solution strength, are linked to the
concentration of volatile compounds
and essential oils in these herbs.
Applying slight stress on the plants
with intense, balanced light and EC
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Maximum Yield USA | June 2016
will improve oil content and flavor
profile and is worth experimenting
with particularly if winter basil quality
from the store-bought product
disappoints. Electrical conductivity
levels in solution culture should be
maintained at 1.6-1.8 for sweet basil
and cilantro and up to 2.2-2.4 for
Greek and bush basil.
For those with limited space, basil and
cilantro can be grown as microgreens,
harvested in the seedling stage after
the development of two to four leaves.
Even at this delicate stage these herbs
develop their characteristic flavor in a
milder form well-suited to many culinary uses. Basil or cilantro seed can be
thickly sown on specifically designed
Basil grows well indoors under artificial lighting.
microgreens mats or pads developed
for hydroponic use and grown for two
to three weeks on a diluted nutrient
solution under moderate light levels.
Microgreens are harvested by cutting
at the base of the seedlings ready for
use and a new crop is re-sown.
Basil and cilantro are two of the
most popular herbs grown in
hydroponic indoor gardens. Giving
some consideration to the wide range
of cultivars, growth forms, disease
resistances and different flavor profiles
on offer make these exciting crops
to trial as well as valuable pairings to
hydroponic, vine-ripened tomatoes
and spicy chillies.